A NEW multi-million pound cinema to be built in Ipswich’s Buttermarket centre is set to bring around 100 new jobs to the town.

Proposals for the �7million nine-screen multiplex Vue cinema have been given the green light, unanimously approved by the borough council.

Work is now expected to start early next year – and it is due to be open to the public by the summer of 2014.

The new 1,350-seat multiplex is expected to create about 100 full and part-time jobs.

And it was revealed that the TK Maxx on the upper floor of the centre is likely to move to the ground floor of the former Allders and TJ Hughes department store as part of the redevelopment of the centre – not to the nearby Tower Ramparts centre as some had suspected.

Ipswich council spokeswoman for planning and development Carole Jones described the changes to the centre as “transformational”.

She said: “This is fantastic news for the town – it is truly transformational because it will bring life to that area in the evenings.

“There should also be new family restaurants and coffee shops opening on the upper floor, and the TK Maxx will be going below the cinema on the ground floor of the centre.”

A spokeswoman for Vue cinemas said the company was “thrilled” by the verdict of the planning committee – but could not comment further at this stage.

Darren Hutchinson from Buttermarket centre owner Cornerstone said work on the site was expected to start early next year once the Christmas and January sales rush was over.

He said: “This is a substantial investment in the Buttermarket centre – about �7million – and we see it as a real vote of confidence in the future of Ipswich.”

The move by Vue has already prompted a screen war in Ipswich. While the nine-screen Vue is being created in the Buttermarket centre, Cineworld in Cardinal Park is currently converting the largest of its 11 screens into an IMAX cinema.

Ipswich Central chief executive Paul Clement said: “In my view the Vue decision is excellent for the town as it introduces more to the evening economy trade.

“It is particularly pleasing that it coincides with the further commitment to invest in Cineworld.”

n Are you looking forward to the new cinema developments? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or alternatively you can send an e-mail to starletters@archant.co.uk