A £100 MILLION pound scheme to regenerate 20 acres of Kendal town centre will go before planners this summer.

Bosses at Gilbert, Gilkes and Gordon say they are finalising their ambitious plans to rejuvenate the Canal Head area and will be ready to go to public consultation by the end of April.

Following the consultation, the turbine manufacturer — one of Kendal’s largest employers — will be looking to submit a planning application to South Lakeland District Council in June or July.

“It is a detailed plan and as we are in a conservation area we have to show how every window will look and this takes time,” said Charles Crewdson, chairman of Gilbert, Gilkes and Gordon.

“I want to get it right. Everyone knows it is coming and it will be done at the appropriate timescale.”

He said the project, which could include the building of a super-market, shops, restaurants, homes and industrial units, would create and secure around 650 jobs. It would also involve re-instating part of the old Lancaster Canal.

Mr Crewdson is also feeling optimistic about the scheme’s chances following a report by a Government planning inspector who refused plans to develop Kendal Rugby Club’s Shap Road ground into a supermarket and non-food retail units.

“It is positive that the inspector acknowledged that the town needs a new retail store,” said Mr Crewdson, who argued it would be better to locate a supermarket at Canal Head rather than on Shap Road.

“This (Canal Head) is a transformational regeneration — a once-in-a-generation opportunity — and I’m very hopeful,” said Mr Crewdson.

“The only issue now is where it (the supermarket) is built and I’m confident that this is a much more favourable location.”

Coun Graham Vincent, Economic Prosperity portfolio holder at South Lakeland District Council, said he would welcome an application from Gilkes.

“We are very keen that something happen at Canal Head,” he said.

“From an economic development point of view I have to accept the result of the inquiry that there is scope for a further supermarket within Kendal.

“I would have to ask whether that should be another out-of-town supermarket?

“That would, to a great extent, take people away from the town centre.

“That is not what we are trying to achieve.

“We are trying to improve the town centre and make it more attractive and viable.”