COUNCIL chiefs are confident the town centre is being 'shaped for generations to come' after plans for the Time Square regeneration scheme edged closer.

The executive board appointed a contractor for the phase four works of the masterplan at the Town Hall on Tuesday.

When open in 2019, Time Square will be home to a 13-screen Cineworld multiplex cinema, restaurants units, permanent market hall, council offices and a public square.

Motorists will also be able to use the new 1,160 multi-storey car park, which is nearing completion.

Council leader Cllr Terry O'Neill hailed the authority for delivering the scheme.

He said: "Members of this executive board should be proud.

"This will, without a shadow of a doubt, transform our town centre.

"We are shaping our town centre for generations to come.

"We need to reshape it to make it friendlier, more diverse and more family-oriented – we need a proper, inclusive town centre.

"More and more housing and repopulating of our town centre is also going on as we speak.

"This is a moment in our lifetime.

"I am immensely proud of this and we all should be, we are showing our ambitions for Warrington.

"People can see it happening now, this is being delivered as we speak.

"Businesses in the town centre are saying 'at least something is happening'.

"We need to make sure it is a town centre for everyone.

"The costs have gone up but we can still deliver the scheme and it will benefit the council as it was planned to do in 2015."

Cllr Dan Price, executive board member for culture and partnerships, said he 'echoed' his leader's views.

He added: "This is absolutely a turning point for Warrington town centre.

"If we move to getting city status, this ties in with that."

The project was due to cost £107 million but costs have increased, partly due to cinema increasing from an eight-screen to a 13-screen multiplex with a Superscreen.

Executive board members were also told 'current global trading conditions' have resulted in some costs going up.

The new figures were discussed in part two of the meeting.

Members also unanimously approved the revised costs and authorised the council 'to borrow sufficient funds' to meet the new costs.

Work commenced on the construction of Time Square in 2015.

It is being developed by Warrington & Co on behalf of the council, with development partner Muse.