MAJOR plans to bring Newton Abbot’s Market Walk to life have been given the seal of approval.

Members of Teignbridge Council agreed, on Monday, to spend £1.9m recladding shop fronts and installing a glass roof over the shopping centre.

It was also unanimously agreed to knock down the set of kiosks in the middle of the market square.

Council leader Jeremy Christophers believed the proposals would bring the area to life.

He said: ‘We need this investment.

‘Anything we can do to increase the footfall has got to be good.

‘What is there isn’t engaging or doing enough to attract people from outside the district.

‘I hope it is a success for Newton Abbot.’

Lib Dem member Cllr Alistair Dewhirst agreed something needed to be done to the tired looking area but raised concerns about the kiosks.

He believed the kiosks are the only part of the market which is interesting.

Cllr Sylvia Russell said: ‘I welcome this and the changes to the market – it is long overdue.

‘We will benefit as a whole from this development.’

Further plans to enhance the Market Square, former post office and Market Hall will go before members in the future.

The work approved this week is set to start in February 2018 and is hoped to be completed by the summer.

A whistleblower revealed to the Mid-Devon Advertiser that the district authority has bigger ambitions for the area.

Among them are thought to be relocating the cinema into New Look’s current Market Walk HQ and moving the fashion retailer to the defunct post office across the square.

Rumour also has it that Cricketfield car park is to become multi-storey and the Job Centre building has been earmarked to become a hotel.