Work on the Broadway shopping centre project stopped in 2008 at basement level when the economy stalled, leaving a huge excavated site in the city centre.

Retail developer Westfield could now restart construction early in 2012 after getting consent and signing M&S as an anchor tenant in the scaled down project.

The total size of the retail development will now be 520,000 sq ft, with the number of shops cut from 100 to 75.

Westfield’s revised plan includes parking for over 1,300 cars, new public spaces and improved links to neighbouring parts of the city centre.