A NEW cinema and bowling alley could be coming to a shopping centre as part of exciting new plans.

Walkden Town Centre has unveiled the first images of ‘phase five’ of its redevelopment project.

A planning application for the major renovation scheme, which could result in a number of shops being relocated elsewhere in the centre, is expected to Salford City Council be submitted in the coming days.

A spokesman for Walkden Town Centre said: “It is a really exciting project, but it is still a long way off yet because we have to go through the planning process and wait for all of the relevant decisions to be made.

“A planning application is due to be submitted to the council imminently and once we have gone through the process we will assess exactly what needs to be done.

“We are re-evaluating the space on the old side of the centre to try and increase the footfall. While doing that we would look at relocating existing tenants affected by the new plans to other locations within the centre.”

Walkden has been without a cinema since the old Unit Four shut down in 1999.

Walkden South councillor Richard Critchley said: “There is huge excitement about these plans and if they go ahead then that would be a great thing for the town.”

He added: “I have stressed the need for engagement with residents and businesses. When the plans are submitted they will be publicly available on the council website and everyone will have a right to comment.”

Walkden Town Centre is currently home to a massive Tesco and JD Sports, but could have its leisure offering transformed by these new plans.