by Hayley Robinson

Film fans will soon be able to enjoy movies in an eight-screen cinema in Sittingbourne.

National chain Vue has made a formal offer to the Spirit of Sittingbourne Consortium for it to build the facility as part of the regeneration proposals for the town centre.

The cinema company will lease the building.

Spirit of Sittingbourne spokesman, James Bishop, said: "The consortium plans to deliver a multiplex cinema in the new cultural square. This will on land close to where The Forum shopping centre car park is.

"We envisage this being open sometime during 2014.

"We are making good progress on the legal negotiations with Swale council and hope to announce signing of the development agreement by the end of the year."

The news has been welcomed by Pete Raine, regeneration director for Swale council.

He said: "We know Sittingbourne town centre will be kept alive by the strength and variety of things for people to do in the evening.

"It has always been said to us, when we’ve asked what people want, that a cinema is top of the list so we are delighted it’s part of the development."

The group, which is made up of Essential Land, which is developing the old paper mill site, property developer Cathedral Group and financial fund manager Alyton, was chosen by Swale council as its partner to regenerate the town over the next five years.

Proposals include retail development, a public square in front of Sittingbourne train station with a hotel and cultural facilities, new civic quarters with a new library, a health centre plus residential accommodation.

It’s estimated the scheme will generate £250 million of economic improvement over the next 10 years and will create 1,100 jobs.

Meanwhile, Spenhill – the regeneration arm of Tesco – has unveiled plans to increase the size of The Forum shopping centre by 40%.

If given the go-ahead, the building, which is owned by the supermarket giant, would be refurbished and a new entrance from St Michael’s Road, through the centre, to the High Street would be created.

An agreement between all parties will see both Spenhill and the consortium, working closely together.