HUNDREDS of new jobs are coming to Bolton with the second phase of a major development which was unveiled yesterday. The £35 million second part of The Valley Centertainment leisure complex in Astley Bridge will create 600 jobs. Already 500 positions have been created at the development off Waters Meeting Road after the opening in the past few months of the Virgin Megaplex Cinema, Atlantis Nightclub, Esporta Health and Fitness Club as well as restaurants and a pub.

Phase two will involve a cut price designer shops village, a museum, a bowling alley, a retail mill and a craft centre.

The village is expected to attract designer label shops such as Ralph Lauren, Versache, Donna Karan, Karen Miller and Pied a Terre, with clothes and goods at knock down prices.

At a high-profile launch yesterday attended by civic dignitaries and industry heads, technical director for developers THI, John Carroll, said: "This will be a great asset to Bolton. We believe it will be a big tourist attraction with three million people a year coming. We are building high quality buildings, made of brick and slate, which will be hugely attractive." The plans are set to go before Bolton Council in a few weeks' time.

The company has spent £4.8 million decontaminating the site, which was a former bleach works.

Mr Carroll admitted his company have so far lost money because of the millions spent on compulsory purchase orders and the clean-up operation.

During the building of phase two, Eagley Brook will be diverted from its course so that it joins River Tonge slightly further down the valley. It is hoped the new museum to be constructed will house Bolton's collection of fine textiles from the 17th and 18th centuries, which have never before been on display because of a lack of space.

A lottery heritage grant would be applied for to help with costs. The new mill and crafts centre would aim to sell goods made in Bolton factories.

It is hoped the designer village will be a rival to factory retail outlet sites currently draining around £12 million worth of shopping from Bolton to centres such as Cheshire Oaks in Ellesmere Port and Freeport in Fleetwood.

Developers insist the new shopping facility in Tonge Valley would not take trade away from Bolton town centre.

Bolton Council leader Bob Howarth described the plans as "very impressive".

He said: "Why let all that business go elsewhere when we could have it in Bolton? I think what's already here is marvellous.

"The main point to remember is it was a derelict valley of old industrial buildings and water lodges.

"It was awful. It has been totally transformed.

"And with the loss of jobs from Littlewoods a few weeks ago, which was a blow, this is very good timing to bring some good news with the amount of jobs being created."

But he warned it would be subject to planning approval.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.