Europe's biggest leisure and entertainment centre, Star City in Birmingham, has been successfully completed by its main contractor, Carillion. Once a derelict power station, the brownfield site has been transformed into a family leisure complex, in a joint venture between Carillion and local developer Richardsons.

The £70m centre features a Warner Village 30-screen cinema - due to be officially opened by Hollywood star, George Clooney, in Birmingham on 20th July. Other attractions include a 22-lane MegaBowl, health club, shops, and 16 themed bars and restaurants. A sports-based family entertainment centre and a night-club are also under discussion.

"It marks a major achievement for Carillion, the main contractor, on such a prestigious project," said Mark Harris, Carillion's Development Director responsible for the project. "We have worked hard to complete the work on time and to a very high standard. In my opinion, Star City is the best leisure project in Europe and will provide a family leisure destination on a scale never seen before in the UK."

Two years after construction began, the 36,700 sq.m (395,000 sq. ft) 'urban entertainment centre' is hailed as the biggest of its type in Europe and is one of Birmingham's largest regeneration projects on a former industrial site.

Anna Lagerkvist