A MAJOR expansion at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre will provide room for three more shops.

The expansion will cover 20,000 square feet, roughly twice as big as the Bhs store on the Gillingham site. It will increase the number of shops at the centre to 53.

Planning permission for the new structure has already been given local authority approval, but centre manager Mark Rumfitt says he does not expect work to start for at least a year.

The plan is to extend the existing building from the Argos entrance, to lengthen the shopping mall. There will be a new entrance, and HSBC and Abbey banks will be incorporated into the main shopping centre.

Mr Rumfit said: "Quite a few companies have shown interest in moving into the new stores when they’re built.

"We’re looking to achieve a good balance of retailers, and it’s likely the new stores will offer ladies’ or men’s wear, or accessories.

"There are lots of options and I’m confident we’ll have no difficulty in filling the new units.

"We intend to keep the Argos entrance open while the work, which is quite complex, is taking place, and that will involve a lot of planning."

He said new stores would add to the mix at what had proved to be a very successful and vibrant shopping centre.

A market research programme will be carried out within the centre to find out what kind of stores shoppers would like to see move in, before any final decision is made.