PLANNING applications have been submitted by the same developer for two major shopping and leisure complexes in Middlesbrough costing £55m.

Vacant land at Middlehaven on the A66 dual carriageway, which links Redcar with Darlington, could be the site of a new 80,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s supermarket with garage as well as a KFC take-away, coffee shop and Marston’s restaurant.

If the £35m application is approved by Middlesbrough Council, the Sainsbury’s store on Wilson Street in the town centre will close although all 230 existing jobs will be saved, developer Terrace Hill has insisted.

The £20m investment proposals for Wilson Street include nine retail and leisure outlets, an 80-bed hotel, and a coffee shop.

Terrace Hill said the developments would create over 820 new full and part time jobs alongside further temporary construction jobs.

Duncan McEwan, Head of Retail, Terrace Hill, said: “The planning applications for the Middlehaven and western gateways represent the highest investment in Middlesbrough in recent years.

“Should the applications be approved, the developments will lead to the creation of over 820 new jobs, and bring out-of-town shoppers back into Middlesbrough, which will no doubt have a positive effect on the local economy.”