The site would incorporate housing and leisure facilities

Merthyr Village Ltd (MVL) is one of the largest land regeneration schemes seen in Wales, according to the developer.

Six hundred acres in the Rhydycar area have been earmarked for the scheme but concerns have been raised that sites of historic interest will be destroyed.

The assembly government is to consider giving permission.

MVL said it wants to revitalise the area and claimed up to 2,000 jobs could be created.

It said 13 well known shops had already expressed a "strong interest".

Retail interest

Project director for MVL, John Walters, said: "There has been exceptional interest by big retailers.

"Merthyr Tydfil would have many of the same High Street brands seen in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport.

"Major companies, including electrical retailers and supermarkets have approached us to say they want to have a presence on the new retail park proposed."

The company said the retails units would not compete with the town's existing shops because they would offer "a different shopping experience".

In the plans, the town centre would be linked to the development by shuttle bus as well as pedestrian and cycle links.

Merthyr Tydfil Council has backed the plans which were subject to public consultation and have now been passed to the assembly government for the final decision.

Concerns

But there are some mixed feelings locally including scepticism concerns over how sites of historic interest will be preserved.

Tony Chaplin, a community activist who is against the plans, said he feared the town's heritage could be lost.

"The company didn't produce any logical plan on how they would protect the heritage sites, they kept saying it could be done but didn't demonstrate at the inquiry precisely how," he said.

"What we have here are the remains of some 19th Century coal mines, some 18th Century iron mines, a whole range of tramways, railways, why do we need an extra 32,400 square feet of retail space?

But John Walters from MVL said: "Our proposal will protect the significant archaeological and historical remains on the site with a highly-detailed environmental management plan.

"At present many of these remains are almost impossible to locate. We aim to make them easily accessible to people who wish to visit them.

"The proposal also provides for quality management of the land to ensure protection of flora and fauna.

"We also have support from local people who want the benefits of Merthyr Villagencluding the protection of the archaeological heritage," Mr Walters said.