The 1m sq ft redevelopment of the Tricorn shopping centre in Portsmouth moved closer last night when the council approved a reserved matters application.
The consent covered the design of the core buildings, including a 230,000 sq ft John Lewis department store and 80 shops.
Centros, the scheme’s developer, has been hit by a series of delays after objections were lodged against a compulsory purchase order .
The objections, which were raised by retailer Mark Austin, will be heard in the summer.
John Marsh, Centros development director, said: “Naturally, we are all very pleased to have achieved this milestone.
“This work will continue while we are waiting for the outcome of the current legal challenge to the Secretary of State’s decision to confirm the Compulsory Purchase Order.”
The scheme, to be known as the Northern Quarter, is scheduled to open in 2012, two years later than originally scheduled.
