PROPOSALS for a multi-million development on Taunton's former livestock market are to go before Taunton Deane Borough Council planners next Wednesday.

St Modwen Developments Ltd - partner of the council, which owns the land - is applying for permission for the scheme at Firepool, off Priory Bridge Road.

The application is for outline planning permission for convenience retail, non-food development, offices or a hotel, assembly/leisure and non-residential institutions, food and drink establishments and up to 200 apartments.

Councillors are being recommended in the 92-page application to delegate the decision to the director of planning and environment.

If the application is successful, St Modwen would then have to draw up a more detailed application.

Contracts could then be signed to finalise which companies would be prepared to take space there.

Discussions have been held with a number of companies expressing a potential interest in setting up on the site and the council would like to attract a major supermarket.

A previous planning application for the site, which has been vacant for just over ten years, was thrown out by councillors.

The opening of the Northern Inner Distributor Road last summer has opened up access to the development.

The site is seen as crucial to improving Taunton's offering, with a boulevard taking people from the train station, along the river through Firepool to Coal Orchard, where there are proposals for a cultural hub with shops, restaurants and flats, and into the town centre.