RETAIL bosses are bidding to extend the Woolgate Shopping Centre, Witney, to meet the demands of a mystery retail giant aiming to move in.

A planning application has been submitted to create 1,463sq ft more retail space for the centre, which already has clothing store Next and household goods retailer Cargo.

The extension is for the roof space of the vacant unit for office use.

The initial work to add 23,500sq ft of new shopping space to the centre, which has cost more than £1m, started in October and was set to finish this autumn.

However, if plans get the go-ahead from West Oxfordshire District Council, it could take months of first floor building work before it is complete. Bosses expect it to be finished by the end of the year.

Rumours have been circulating that clothing shop H&M or underwear specialist Ann Summers may be the retailer negotiating for the last unit in the Woolgate Shopping Centre.

H&M said it was company policy not to comment until any lease was signed. Ann Summers said it had no plans for the county.

Neil Hardiman, development manager of landlord Universities Superannuation Scheme Ltd, said: “We are close to finalising terms with a quality retailer, new to Witney, who wishes to take the whole of our remaining un-let unit in the Woolgate Shopping Centre extension.

“The recently submitted planning application is to modify this unit ... to meet the specific operational requirements of this retailer.

“We are unable to disclose the retailer’s name.”