Work will take place in a phased approach.  Phase one, which accounts for over 40 per cent of the development and is valued at circa £100 million, includes Doncaster’s first public square, a world-class performance venue and council offices.  Further phases feature a library and art showcase area, leisure developments, office developments, housing and car parking.

One of the elements of phase one, the new performance venue, is conditional upon obtaining grant funding from Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency.  A decision on funding is expected in August 2009.

Preparatory work on the site is set to commence in June 2009, with construction due to begin in earnest by the end of the year.  Phase one is expected to be complete by early 2012.

The agreement follows two further contracts secured by Muse Developments within the past six months, in Swindon and Blackpool, which have a total value of £570 million.

Paul Smith, Chief Executive of Morgan Sindall plc, said: “This latest agreement is testament to Muse Developments’ ability to continue to win long-term regeneration partnership projects despite a continuing challenging environment in the urban regeneration market.

“It is the third large scale agreement Muse has announced recently and speaks volumes for the quality and excellence of projects the business delivers.”

Muse Developments delivers large scale mixed use urban regeneration projects through development agreements in partnership with public and private landowners.  The business operates in the office, industrial, residential, leisure and ancillary retail sectors.  The company is part of Morgan Sindall plc, a top UK construction and regeneration group which operates through five specialist divisions of fit out, construction, infrastructure services, affordable housing and urban regeneration.

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