MORE than 200 jobs will be created with the opening of a string of stores in Glasgow.

The city's Buchanan Street is to welcome shops including US fashion firm Forever 21 and British clothing company Fat Face as part of a £70million retail development.

The Buchanan Quarter stores will open opposite Buchanan Galleries on March 22.

The street already attracts about 91million shoppers per year.

Forever 21, in its first franchise in Scotland, will employ 150 people, while stationery firm Paperchase is hiring 40 staff.

Fat Face has filled 15 positions and other stores, including footwear brand Skechers and Evans Cycles, have yet to confirm how many people they will recruit.

The 115,000sq ft lot was purchased by property firm Land Securities in 2009 for just under £10m.

Development director Nick Davis said: "We are proud to be investing in Glasgow and enhancing its reputation as the UK's top retail destination outside London."

The site will also house 49 flats above the shops, with a communal sky garden, gym and residents' lounge.

Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson said: "I am sure this development will be hugely successful."

Linda Chang, global marketing director for Forever 21, said: "Glasgow is known for being fashion forward and serves as a great location for our first flagship store in Scotland."

Meanwhile, a new visitor information centre is to open in Buchanan Street on March 4, the eve of a conference where tourism body VisitScotland will unveil plans to showcase the city and Scotland.