PUTTING up another Silica-style structure and knocking down a town centre bar are a couple of the ideas North Somerset Council has come up with as part of a massive redevelopment project.

PUTTING up another Silica-style structure and knocking down a town centre bar are a couple of the ideas North Somerset Council has come up with as part of a massive redevelopment project.

The unitary authority has produced a planning document to guide developers as to how work should progress around Dolphin Square.

The pack, which will help provide guidelines on deciding any future planning applications for the area, describes The Chicken Inn, Sands nightclub and Oxford Cafe as having 'no architectural merit'.

It says that the retention of biker pub Scally's in Carlton Street 'is not considered essential'.

The documents also suggests:

* A taller building providing a visual landmark as counterpart to Silica could be erected at the corner of Oxford Street and Union Street.

* Creating a second central square around the corner of Oxford Street and Union Street as a counterpart to Big Lamp Corner.

* Putting a prominent corner building on the corner of Union Street and Carlton Street to provide a visual landmark for people arriving into town and travelling down Walliscote Grove Road.

* If the Oxford Cafe is not retained creating an opportunity for another landmark building on that corner.

* Creating pedestrian links from St James Street and High Street to the Carlton Street Car Park.

* Providing a new pedestrian link from the corner of High Street, Union Street and Oxford Street to the Tropicana.

The document also outlines how the creation of new jobs and the number of new residential units put in will have to be 'carefully balanced'.

In September, CNC Properties sold all its leasehold buildings in Dolphin Square to commercial developer the Kilmartin Group.

All but two freehold properties are now under the control of the regeneration specialist, which is half owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

In February, North Somerset Council published a report looking at demolishing the same site and every building between Union Street, Carlton Street, Beach Road and Oxford Street and replacing them with new leisure faculties, car parking, shops and luxury apartments.

The current planning document says that the unitary authority will be consulting the public on the document in November and December but also says the Dolphin Square buildings: 'have limited architectural merit and are not considered worthy of retention'.

The local authority wants to enter into discussions with the leasehold and freehold retailers on the site to see how to progress with the plans by negotiating leases.

Kilmartin Group, which was established in 1996, is currently working with the Royal Bank of Scotland to build new flagship offices in Edinburgh and a luxury 130-bed hotel for Radisson Hotels.