DOLPHIN Square has been a hive of activity this week ahead of the demolition of the neighbouring Sands nightclub.

An agreement for knocking down Sands has now been signed and a spokesman for McLaren Life, the firm running the redevelopment project, said work is expected to start within six weeks.

Negotiations are still ongoing to see which stores will join Vue Cinemas and restaurant chains Nando’s, Prezzo and Harvester at the new shopping district, although the Mercury understands Debenhams and Primark are among those ready to sign up.

The spokesman said: “We are still talking to a variety of tenants. We have some tenants signed up which gives the scheme credibility but we are still talking to several others.”

Work began on clearing the ground for the 112-bed Premier Inn a fortnight ago and its construction is expected to begin shortly too. The �35million redevelopment is expected to create 400 jobs when it is fully completed in 2013.