Things are looking up in Leeds

A 160ft tower crane signals the start of the next phase of work on the 350m Trinity Leeds shopping centre – the first major retail development in the UK to get the go-ahead since the credit crunch hit.

The crane will be used as steelwork is installed and to move other heavy materials around the site.

The shopping and leisure centre is due to open in spring 2013 and have up to 3,000 retail staff. A further 1,000 construction workers are expected to be employed when building activity is at its peak.

Andrew Dudley, who is leading the project for Land Securities Retail, said: "With the arrival of the first tower crane, this urban regeneration project will soon start to take shape and over the coming months the true scale of what we are delivering will begin to be seen as the construction programme moves forward.

"Trinity Leeds will have a real wow factor, with its spectacular glazed roof, flagship stores, stylish restaurant quarter – and the first Everyman cinema in the North."

Tenants have been secured for almost 50 per cent of the flagship one million sq ft retail development, which is set to transform Leeds city centre.

The development will offer more than 120 retail units and include Marks & Spencer, Boots, Next, Top Shop, River Island, Oasis, Bhs and H&M as well as restaurant chains Yo! Sushi and Carluccio's.

Work on Trinity Leeds stalled in April 2009 as confidence among retailers slumped. While the building site was closed, the developers insisted the scheme, though postponed because of the recession, would continue and they were committed to it.

In July this year, however, a deal was agreed with principal contractor Laing O'Rourke and preparatory work began last month.