Image: The cinema at the site will be operated by Vue

Plans for a new cinema and restaurants in Farnborough have taken a major step forward after a formal agreement was signed by Rushmoor Borough Council, developer St. Modwen and cinema operator Vue.

The planned development at The Meads - which is owned by St Modwen - forms a key part of the regeneration of the town centre and will include a number of new restaurants totalling 35,000 sq ft as well as the Vue cinema.

Planning permission has now been granted and the cinema is scheduled to open by summer 2014.

The first two phases of St. Modwen's regeneration plans for Farnborough are already complete.

A 77-bedroom Travelodge hotel and a pub operated by Wetherspoons are already open while budget operator The Gym will open a 24-hour fitness centre by the end of this month (September).

James Stockdale, development surveyor at St. Modwen, said: "This is a great step forward in our on-going work to improve the leisure and retail facilities in Farnborough town centre for the local community.

"We know from our initial consultations that local people have been crying out for a cinema for some time. It will be a real benefit to the area, delivering a much-needed boost to the town's night-time economy."