Newcastle United has tabled plans for a huge leisure and shops complex just yards from its St James' Park ground. The multi-million pound development will include a 200-bed hotel and 45 flats.

The rest of the development on land at St James' Metro Station, Gallowgate, would contain a 280-space multi-storey car park, shops, a cinema, nightclub, offices, bars and restaurants.

Newcastle City Council has just received the plans, which would have to go out for public comments before a decision is made by councillors.

Newcastle United owns all the land where the development will take place, apart from one small section owned by the local authority.

Durham-based architects RPS Consultants said the scheme will also take in the car park behind Wellbar House up to Strawberry Lane and down to St Andrews' Place. Technical director David Kershaw said the scheme would cost "tens of millions of pounds" and revealed that the firm had been working on blueprints with the club for two years.

He added: 

"This will be a landmark scheme within Newcastle. It's at the focal point of St James' Boulevard as it turns down towards Gallowgate.

"It will complement the football ground behind it and sit comfortably beside it.

"The football club see this scheme as complementary to their operation as a and the interests of the club." It has been earmarked in a council brief for redevelopment in a bid to breathe new life into the Gallowgate area.

A Newcastle City Council spokeswoman said: 

"The application will have to go out to public consultation so that any objections or support can be received from interested parties."

Biffa