THE demolition of a derelict former shopping centre in Southampton will begin in just two weeks, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Work to knock down the run-down East Street Shopping Centre will start on August 19.

And the once-popular centre will be replaced with a new Morrisons supermarket, which is expected to open its doors at the beginning of 2015 and create hundreds of jobs.

The centre was built in the 1970s and used to be full of traders and businesses, but its use dwindled over recent years.

As previously reported, plans to redevelop the site first surfaced in 2011 with supermarket giant Morrisons contracted to provide a new store, while a new car park will also be created.

The first set of plans for the £30m development were approved by the city council last year, but developer Arcadian Estates submitted amended blueprints earlier this year.

The amended plans – which were changed to maintain the current four-lane road layout of Evans Street, instead of narrowing it to two lanes – were approved in April and the developer was given the go-ahead to begin work this summer.

Once completed, the new three-storey supermarket is expected to create 400 local jobs As well as the supermarket, 286 cars will be able to be housed in two levels of parking with travelators linking the car park with the supermarket. The East Street pedestrian link between St Mary’s and the city centre will also be restored as part of the development. The city council has now made a temporary traffic regulation order for the roads affected by the demolition and construction work.

From August 19 until February 19 2015, a 30metre section of Lime Street from Kings Street will be closed.

Sections of St Georges Street will also be closed throughout the work.