Ambitious plans to almost double the size of Sittingbourne’s only shopping centre have been unveiled.

Spenhill – the regeneration arm of Tesco – wants to extend The Forum and increase its size by 40% by adding two new retail blocks between the centre and St Michael’s Road.

If given the go-ahead, bigger shop units would also be built to "attract popular high-street brands".

The building, which is owned by the supermarket giant, would be refurbished and a new entrance from St Michael’s Road, leading through the centre, to the High Street would be created.

A raised platform area, known as The Circus, would be built over St Michael’s Road, giving pedestrians priority between the complex and the new footbridge over the railway, to land north of the station, which has already received planning permission. Landscaping would also be carried out around the site and on the southern side of St Michael’s Road, to "help create a quality shopping environment".

The company was forced to rethink its plans to regenerate the town centre after Swale council chose the Spirit of Sittingbourne Consortium as its preferred regeneration partner.

However, proposals to build a new shopping facility and parking on the Milton Creek site, north of the railway, remain unchanged.

An agreement between all parties will see both Spenhill and the consortium, made up of Essential Land – developers of the old paper mill site – property developer the Cathedral Group and fund managers Alyton, working closely together.

Jonathan Simpson, corporate affairs manager at Tesco, said: "In addition to the new retail, refurbishment and landscaping we are, crucially, investing heavily in Sittingbourne’s infrastructure by creating a continuous pedestrian link between the Milton Creek site and the town centre.

"We know from our discussions with local businesses and residents that many people see a connection between north and south as a crucial benefit."

The plans are currently on show at The Forum shopping centre and can be viewed at http://www.spenhillsittingbourne.co.uk