A MAJOR redevelopment of the London Road area of Salisbury, including a health and fitness complex and a 102-place day nursery, could be under way within months.

Ambitious plans that will transform one of the main approaches to the city are nearly complete and work on the trade park element of the venture may start in the spring.

Developers are hoping that the community facilities will be operational by the end of next summer.

Brian Mitchell, spokesman for Denvale Trade Parks and John Mowlem plc, said the company was expecting to start work on a neighbouring £10m trade park off the A30 by the spring.

He said that the leisure element of the site had already been pre-let to two tenant companies.

The third and final strand of developing the open fields between London Road and the railway line will be the implementation of a park-and-ride site.

Plans to install a bus lane on the London Road have also been put out to public consultation.

News that a nursery, fitness centre and trade park could all be operational during next year was warmly welcomed by Bishopdown district councillor Kevin Cardy.

The nursery will be a bright, modern, two-storey building, accommodating 102 children. It will have an outdoor play area and will be open between 7am and 7pm.

Facilities at the new health and fitness centre will include a 20m indoor heated pool, gymnasium, aerobic studio, health and beauty section, crche, lounge bar, changing rooms and offices.

The trade park will create up to 200 jobs and will be home to high-tech businesses, with 13 purpose-built showrooms and sales units.