THE £100 million Whitefriars redevelopment in Canterbury could be finished a year ahead of schedule. It follows early completion of the preliminary works which means the new Fenwick store is now due to open in just eight months.

That will release the existing Ricemans store for demolition sooner than expected. Now developer Land Securities - in partnership with the city council - has awarded the main contract for the redevelopment to HBG Construction.

The £49.6 million contract involves the design and build of more than 30 shops (all to be serviced underground), including two large stores, residential accommodation, a multi-storey car park, a library and a cycle park facility.

It also includes an extension to the McDonald's restaurant in St George's Street, two bridges linking the car park with Marks & Spencer and Bhs and all associated external works and services. Work will start next month and the entire project is now due for completion by the summer of 2005, a year ahead of schedule.

Land Securities project manager Jez Cohen said: "We have been able to shorten the construction programme by working with Fenwick to ensure an earlier completion of its store. "We have also been working closely with the archaeologists to sequence the works to suit their resources and carry out excavations in the most efficient manner. "