CONSTRUCTION work to transform the former Peter Blacks site in Trowbridge into a £7m retail and leisure centre is gathering pace as brick laying work has now started.

Workmen started knocking down the former toiletries factory last year after being left to rot for more than 10 years.

Plans submitted by property consultants JLL on behalf of MRMU and King Developments in January to transform the site into a retail development were approved by Wiltshire Council in April last year.

The factory, which is located at Cradle Bridge, off County Way, was closed in 2002 and has been derelict ever since, but it will now house several retail units - including M&S Simply Food and Toby Carvery - and a car park with 148 spaces.

Welsh Firm Dudley’s Aluminium will begin work in the next few months to create custom-made curtain walling and glazing.

The Cradlebridge Retail Park is expected to open this summer.