A £6M REVAMP of Oxford’s Clarendon shopping centre, unveiled last night, will bring fashion chain H&M to the city centre.

Shopping centre bosses revealed the plans – which will see the centre’s size increased by 10 per cent – were prompted by a scheme to rebuild the rival Westgate Centre.

The Currys Digital store, close to the Shoe Lane entrance, will be demolished and a new three-storey extension built in its place.

It is set to be finished well before the 2017 completion date for the Westgate project.

Clarendon Centre manager Graham Atkinson added: “I’m over the moon – this will bring in lots of shoppers and increase footfall.”

H&M will hire about 30 full- and part-time staff, and will take up 38,245sq ft on all three floors of the extension.

Managers said other big name chains had been invited to fill the two other units on the ground and first floors.

The centre is managed by Lothbury Investment Management. Director Adam Smith said building work could begin in June, with the new units completed by October 2013, and H&M opening early in 2014.

He added: “We have been trying to get H&M to come to Oxford for years, but there has not been a suitable space for them.

“This is a coup for the Clarendon Centre as H&M is a very popular chain – if someone in Oxford wants some David Beckham pants they won’t have to go to Milton Keynes or Reading to get them.

“At some point, the Westgate shopping centre will expand, bringing a John Lewis to Oxford.

“We are conscious of that and have to defend ourselves against it.

“Retailers nationally have been struggling, so we are delighted to have secured H&M.”

Mr Smith added that the centre was working to attract other “international” high street names.

Graham Jones, chairman of traders’ group Rox – Promoting Oxford Business – said: “This is the first major retail redevelopment in Oxford for a very long time and very positive news.

“I think this shows that major retailers still want to invest in the high street – with the internet you can’t try things on.”

City council leader Bob Price said: “The arrival of H&M will be very good news for Oxford.

“The retail offer in Oxford is still not as comprehensive as we think it should be.

“This announcement shows the vibrancy of the retail sector despite the recession.

“And plans for the Westgate Centre are still on track – we hope it will be up and running by 2017.”

As part of the revamp, Currys Digital will move to the vacant River Island unit.

H&M spokesman Laura Maggs confirmed the chain was coming to the Clarendon Centre and added: “We estimate that the new store will create 20 to 30 new jobs in a mix of full- and part-time positions.

“Depending on the construction schedule, we would like to open as early as next year.”

The new units will cover 50,376sq ft, an increase of 12,465sq ft. The centre currently provides about 125,000 sq ft of retail space in total, so the expansion is an increase of about 10 per cent.

Planning permission has already been approved by Oxford City Council.

The Westgate redevelopment is set to include a cinema, a John Lewis department store, new shops and a new multi-storey car park.

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk