The new centre will enable shoppers to stay out later

A new department store, restaurants, cafes and a bowling alley will be built on the former site of Asda supermarket on Eagles Meadow.

Wrexham council hope it will inject new vibrancy into the area and transform the town into a shopping centre of regional importance.

John Lewis had previously announced they would move to the site but backed out last year.

The scheme by developers Wilson Bowden includes 225,000 sq ft of retail floor space and a flagship department store.

Talks are on-going with Debenhams to get them on-board.

The inner ring road, currently on the site, would be re-routed.

The development will transform a disused site and join together areas of the town

There are also proposals for 50 apartments and a 1,000 space car park.

The site is currently a large car park used by shoppers and office workers alike.

The new development is being billed as "somewhere to stay after five o clock".

"It will transform Wrexham," said the council's strategic director Paul Roberts.

"Innovative is what this is, it's something different," he added.

David Ward from Wilson Bowden Developments said the scheme will put Wrexham on the map.

"The town is a very good catchment area and a good site," he added.

The development is expected to bring several hundred new jobs.

Designers hope the new development, which will centre around two squares, will attract more families into the town.

A consultation process will now begin with local people and the new shopping centre should be up and running by March 2007.