A £122m regeneration plan for south Norwich has received the green light from Norwich City Council.

The 45,000sq ft mixed-use development, called Harford Place, is led by developers Targetfollow and includes a leisure complex, restaurants, cafés, a hotel and a 10,000sq ft community art centre with 20 artist studios.

When complete, the development will also include residential housing, a public realm and a new public square, which will form the gateway to the scheme.

Targetfollow has worked with a team consisting of architects Benoy and consultants Drivers Jonas, Roche, Cundall, Cottee, MDA Consulting and public realm designers Gillespies.

The development will integrate three sites, owned by Targetfollow, which include the Hall Road Retail Park.

Mark Bradley, portfolio manager at Targetfollow, said: "The resolution by the council is great news for this part of Norwich. Targetfollow can now look forward to creating a new major hub of activity serving the population of Harford, Tuckswood and Lakenham areas."

The developers plan to start construction early 2009 and to complete the development by 2010.