Built on the site of the Chandos Street car park, Clarendon Arcade would be bigger than the Royal Priors and have space for around 35 shops - including an as yet unnamed 'major' department store.

John Lewis and Debenhams top the list of rumoured participants, but neither has confimred involvement.

Developer Wilson Bowden was awarded the project in July and has released its vision for the 175,000 sq ft centre, which Courier readers can see for themselves by clicking on the link.

In comparison the Royal Priors covers 151,600 sq ft and Regent Court 80,000 sq ft. If it is given planning permission, construction is expected to begin in 2009 and the site will be open in 2012.

Several shops between Warwick Street and Clarendon Avenue and The Parade and Chandos Street would have to move to make way for the development. Guy Street would be lost altogether.

Public consultationt came to an end last month, following considerable opposition from residents, business owners and the Green Party's Ian Davison. He warned the precinct would create traffic congestion, carbon emissions and damage to surrounding wildlife.

The plan has the support of Warwick District Council and Royal Priors manager Gerry McManus, who described it as a "win-win situation for everyone".

Regent Court's Paul Haynes felt a new development would not be in competition with the town's independent shops - but would help make Leamington more attractive as "a sub-regional shopping destination".

Wilson Bowden development director Simon Russian said: "If Leamington is going to become a first-class destination it needs to improve its shopping, especially in the face of out-of-town competition.

"By placing a shopping centre here, we will create a continuous circuit of shopping through the town, headed by a department store which we are confident is big enough to anchor the development."

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