DEVELOPERS were celebrating today after confirming that they had secured operators for a multi plex cinema in Wisbech as part of a £20 million new leisure and retail park. Up to 200 full and part time jobs will be created when the complex- on the site of

DEVELOPERS were celebrating today after confirming that they had secured operators for a multi plex cinema in Wisbech as part of a £20 million new leisure and retail park.

Up to 200 full and part time jobs will be created when the complex- on the site of the former Wisbech Stock Car stadium- opens next year.

Jonathan Clogg, Development Director for Cromwell Retail Park Limited said: "This is a hugely exciting time for our project as we buck the trend and soak up the available leisure and retail spending for this area of East Anglia."

Mr Clogg said the multi plex had been let to The Light Cinema -'designed for digital' operator- as a key anchor tenant. The five-screen cinema will allow for up to 15 to 20 films to be shown a week.

The cinema's operators believe they have the technology to enable big sporting and music events to be beamed directly into the Fenland complex.

"The Light concept will ensure the park outperforms in demographic and trading terms, attracting people from far outside its natural catchment due to this ground-breaking digital concept," said Mr Clogg.

He said Cromwell Retail Park would be one of the largest retail and leisure developments coming out of the ground this year, providing 151,000 sq ft of mixed use retail and leisure development. The development offers 110,000 sq ft of mixed retail space and 45,000 sq ft of mixed leisure and restaurants uses.

Keith Pullinger of The Light Cinemas said: "The scheme provides an excellent demographic location for our first digital cinema in the UK.

"This is a ground-breaking time for the cinema industry and the digital concept we will be delivering is the future and the first of many cinemas that we will be opening over the next few years."

Companies signed up for space at the new park include: Next, New Look, Pets at Home, Brantano, Home Bargains, Wickes as well as The Light Cinemas.

Mr Clogg added: ""We have more retailers considering the scheme than we have units available and all of these parties are significant national retailers. We are going to be selective with the tenants we sign to deliver a sustainable retail park that builds on the strength of the excellent tenants we have already secured."

The scheme's catchment population within a 30 minute drive time is 171,000

The scheme is due to complete and open in Autumn 2009.