Town's new shops complex on hold

Boston Borough Council said they would look for other developers

The future of a major Lincolnshire building scheme is in doubt after the developer went into administration.

Boston's £100m Merchants Quay - a 10-acre complex of shops and leisure facilities - has been put on hold, the borough council confirmed.

The scheme, which would have created 1,000 jobs, included a hotel and 60,000 sq ft department store between West Street and the River Haven.

Developers Modus Eastern (Boston) Ltd were unavailable for comment.

Councillor Richard Dungworth, from the council, said: "Given the state of the national economy, the West Street development is on hold but we will continue to work with people who have an interest in the site.

"The work which has been done so far will underpin any future schemes which may come forward when the economic conditions improve."

The Merchants Quay development was part of a wider scheme to rejuvenate Boston's waterfront.

The other parts of the scheme included:

• Boston Lock Link - £8m scheme by Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership and the Environment Agency to link The Haven with South Forty Foot Drain
• The Haven Barrage - a £35m investment into the construction of a flood defence barrage by the Environment Agency and Lincolnshire County Council
• The Waterfront - a development of 200 homes close to London Road Quay

The scheme was due to be completed in 2012.