THIS is the first image of a proposed �7million development in the Buttermarket Centre in Ipswich.

In May, it was revealed that nationwide cinema operator Vue Cinemas was in discussions with the owners of the Buttermarket to convert the department store unit – left empty when TJ Hughes collapsed last year – into a cinema.

A public consultation has been held to get opinions on the plans, yet to be submitted to the borough council, which would see the nine screen cinema seat 1,200 people.

Darren Hutchinson, of Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers, the landlords of the centre, said: “We will also create a number of family restaurants to complement the cinema and provide our customers with an exciting leisure destination for the town.

“In addition to the cinema and restaurants the �7m project will see the centre create secure evening parking.

“The works will include the reinstatement of the first-floor atrium out towards St Stephens Lane to bring more daylight into the Centre and further cosmetic work to improve the Buttermarket and its facilities.”

The potential cinema site has had a chequered history since it opened in 1992.

In 2005 the bottom two storeys were taken over by TJ Hughes, which went into administration last year.