Joint venture developers Rokeby Developments and Peveril Securities gave the go-ahead this week for the big development on the former Wraggs Pipes and Hepworth’s production plant site, in Coppice Side.

When finished the development will contain a five-screen Curzon cinema, Argos, Peacocks and Home Bargains – plus supermarkets Iceland and Aldi.

Adrian Goodall, managing director of Rokeby (Swadlincote), said: “We expect to have handed over a finished scheme to tenants for fit-out by July of next year and expect it will be trading by Christmas 2011.”

The developers have committed to a £4m restoration of the old Hepworth’s chimney and four of the old factory buildings to retain the town’s industrial heritage.

The four original buildings will be the main element of a new restaurant quarter for the site, which is shortly to be launched.