TWO multi-million pound out-of-town shopping schemes which could create 800 new jobs could fail to get further than Bolton's planning councillors tomorrow.

They are a £35 million shopping and leisure designer village in the Tonge Valley and a £20 million factory outlet centre at Middlebrook.

Planning officers are recommending that councillors should refuse permission for both schemes because of the impact they fear they will have on Bolton town centre.

Councillors have already deferred a decision on the Tonge Valley scheme twice and Middlebrook once. They wanted a report to be prepared on how similar out-of-town shopping schemes have affected other town centres across the country.

In addition, councillors agreed to meet town centre traders last week before coming to a decision.

Councillors will be presented with a detailed report on how seven similar schemes across the country have hit town centres.

The findings are mixed, but the general conclusion is that there has NOT been a significant impact on town centres.

The Tonge Valley application from Chester-based leisure developers THI would involve 120,000 square feet of shopping.

There would also be leisure outlets including a restaurant, pub, a museum, bowling alley and a 21st century mill.

The Middlebrook scheme, from developers Orbit, includes 70,000 sq ft of designer outlet shopping.

There would also be a heritage centre, leisure use and a restaurant.

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