Neptune Developments has announced that Bowmer & Kirkland has been named as main contractor for Phase 2 of the £60m New Brighton retail and leisure scheme in the North-west.

The firm is expected to start civil engineering works on the project on the Wirral by the end of the year.

The first phase of the £60m scheme was completed late 2008 with the award-winning 800-seat Floral Pavilion and Conference Centre.

Phase Two, worth approximately £35m, includes a new Morrison’s supermarket, a 66-bed Travelodge hotel, a digital cinema, bars, restaurants, a watersports training centre, a new model boating lake, a public lido and other public spaces, as well as improved public transport links.

Neptune Developments director Rob Mason commented: “We are pleased to be moving ahead with Phase Two of the New Brighton scheme and are looking forward to working with Bowmer & Kirkland."

The Marine Lake, the new Promenade and Model Boating Lake are due to be completed by summer 2010, with the Morrisons Supermarket ready to start fitting-out just after Christmas next year. The rest of the leisure buildings and the Lido are set for completion by summer 2011.