Norman Smurthwaite visits site of intu Potteries extension

Port Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite.

PORT Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite joined Wates Construction on the site of a 20 million restaurant and leisure extension at intu Potteries.

He was invited to mark the progress made in the transformation of the football club's former Old Recreation Ground.

It came as engineers completed the two-storey steel frame alongside a seven-metre deep excavation.

Construction on the development began at the start of the summer and is taking place on the land adjacent to intu Potteries, which became car parking for the city following Port Vale's move to Vale Park in Burslem in 1950.

Completion of the steel frame marks the installation of 600 tonnes of steelwork, equating to 2,735 beams, 12,800 bolts and enough linear metres of welded steel to stretch 48 miles.

Once complete, the new development will comprise a nine-screen Cineworld cinema complex plus family restaurants.

Martin Breeden, regional director of intu, said: "Completion of the steel frame brings opening day nearer to the time when the restaurant and leisure extension at intu Potteries will be buzzing with families and friends enjoying the choices available. It's great having the support of Port Vale."

Building work is due to reach completion in spring 2015, followed by a programme of interior fit-out works.

It is expected that approximately 100 jobs will be created during construction, with a further 185 once the new development is open. The work is part of intu's 1.2bn development pipeline nationally over the next 10 years.

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Norman Smurthwaite visits site of intu Potteries extension