Liverpool City Council (LCC) has approved plans for the next phase of the £160m Central Village development, which will transform the area around the city's Central railway station.

Altrincham-based developer Merepark is behind the proposals, which will see land above the station developed into a new leisure destination after initial planning permission was granted in 2006. One of the busiest underground railway stations outside London, Liverpool Central will be developed into a retail and leisure hub as part of the plans, including shops, cafés, bars and restaurants above the current concourse.

The 23,000sq ft (2,137sq m) concourse transformation will provide a link to the wider Central Village scheme, comprising two hotels, an apart-hotel, retail and leisure units, a cinema and boardwalk and public realm. Lewis', one of Liverpool's oldest department stores, is also set to close as part of the proposals after plans to transform the Grade II-listed building were approved by the council in October 2008.