CONSTRUCTION is under way on a £15m expansion to the Bridges in Sunderland city centre, which will include a new Primark store and entrance to the mall.

Construction group Morgan Sindall, which employs 100 staff at its North East office in Durham, is leading work on the project and the London-based company said that around 150 jobs are being created by the work.

As part of the expansion, Land Securities will deliver a three-storey 60,000sq ft anchor store for Primark, which will be double the size of its current location.

The expansion will also create a new entrance to the centre on High Street West and completion is anticipated in July 2012.

Sunderland City Council leader Paul Watson, key figures from Land Securities, and representatives from appointed contractor Morgan Sindall have visited the site to officiate over the start of the major project.

Hoardings have been erected and work is fully under way to the expansion, which will bring Primark to the centre for the first time.

Land Securities is fully behind and actively encouraging the use of local resources during the construction phase of this project.

Gerald Jennings, portfolio director at Land Securities, said: “It’s exciting times at The Bridges.