WORK is due to start today on a multi-million pound development in a Suffolk town - set to bring shops, homes and leisure facilities.The long-awaited Cattle Market development in Bury St Edmunds will finally get under way with the contractors beginning work.

WORK is due to start today on a multi-million pound development in a Suffolk town - set to bring shops, homes and leisure facilities.

The long-awaited Cattle Market development in Bury St Edmunds will finally get under way with the contractors beginning work.

Despite some delays, contractor Taylor Woodrow is due to start work on the 5.4 hectare site, which is set to create around 35 new shops, cafes and restaurants, 62 apartments above the shops, 850 new shoppers' parking spaces, a new public square and a multi-purpose public venue building.

John Griffiths, leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council and chairman of the Cattle Market redevelopment working party, said: “The contractors starting work is very exciting - it is another milestone in a long project.

“There has been quite a lot of work done so far - we've done archaeology surveys, and now the real work of the construction. It's the end of the beginning and we are now on the final stretch.”

St Edmundsbury Borough Council and developer Centros Miller have been working in partnership on the project, gaining planning permission in February 2005 and expect to finish the redevelopment in the beginning of 2009.

Despite worries over car parking spaces in the town and future disruption caused by the construction, Mr Griffiths said everything was being done to minimise any disturbance.

“In any big project there is bound to be disruption but the council and the developers will be working to make that as minimal as possible.”

lorraine.price@eadt.co.uk