Hammerson has put the wheels in motion to restart plans for a £600m development in Leeds.

The property firm has raised the cash to revive plans first tabled eight years ago for the Eastgate retail scheme in the north east of the city, The Independent reports.

Hammerson raised £518m through selling a number of London offices to Brookfield last month and the first phase of the development is expected to be completed by 2016.

The Eastgate development will include a new John Lewis at one end and the existing Harvey Nichols in the Victoria Quarter in the city. Hammerson has hired property agent DTZ to lease out the scheme.

The development comes as Land Securities is due to open the one million sq ft Trinity Leeds centre next spring.

Leeds City Counncil will purchase Millgarth police headquarters this week which is likely to free up land to build a car park for the Eastgate scheme.