The existing Bi-Lo supermarket, Hunter Valley Renovators building, two houses and a horse float showroom on Kurri's Lang Street will be demolished under plans to transform the site into a re-invorgated shopping centre, housing a 3228sqm supermarket, a liquor outlet, four specialty shops and 124 car parking spaces.

It has been tentatively named the Kurri Shopping Village.

But Buildev development planner, Mark Daniels, said the company would welcome alternative suggestions from the community during the public exhibition period.

The company is also hunting a supermarket operator to move into what has been described as an ideally located township.

"Kurri is seen as a growth area of the Hunter Valley," Mr Daniels said.

"There's a lot of industrial and residential development happening nearby, particularly in Heddon Greta and the HEZ (Hunter Economic Zone).

"Kurri is so close to the freeway and would be even closer with the F3 extension so it's naturally attractive.

"It's a great opportunity. The other supermarkets in the town are perhaps a little bit dated, and this is an opportunity for a fresh start with a new supermarket."

The plans lodged with Cessnock City Council also incorporated traffic and pedestrian management for the site, which is opposite Kurri Primary School.

Mr. Daniels said the company was conscious of responding to community perceptions that access to the site was "higglety piggelty".

Entry to the centre would remain from Lang Street, but would be closer to the Allworth Street roubndabout.

"The main thing is to try to manage traffic safely, given the development is across from the school, there's a one-way lane at the back and a service station next door," he said.

"What we've tried to do is improve Lang Street taffic and pedestrian management."

Mayor of Cessnock, Cr. John Clarence said Buildev's plans are the latest in a string of new developments for the Kurri commercial centre.

An Aldi supermarket proposed for a site on Barton Street, Kurri Kurri is expected to be approved in coming weeks.

"The benefits to Kurri, when combined with the Aldi and existing IGA supermarkets, will be competitive pricing," he said.

"It will encourage people to shop in Kurri, and will generate jobs so that people can also work in Kurri."

Kurri and District Business Chamber president Toby Thomas said the town's growing commercial development came on the back of expanding employment opportunities in the area, particularly growth in the Hunter Economic Zone (HEZ).

He predicted that both commercial and residential growth in the area would continue.

"It creates so much confidence in the area," he said.

"It's an indication that as more of these big operations move in, the town is going to continue to surge ahead."