MULTI-millionaire clothing retailer Sir Philip Green's Arcadia Group is to open a new flagship store in East Kilbride Shopping Centre.

The company will take over a 10,800 sq ft unit in the mall's Centre West area, to house one of the biggest Topshop, Topman and Miss Selfridge outlets in Britain.

Centre Director, Ian McLelland, said: "This is a major development and forms part of our plans to improve the shopping experience.

"We are looking to make the centre much more 'shop-able' by creating distinct zones.

"Centre West and the Plaza will have our fashion and major chain stores, the area around the ice rink will be the leisure and entertainment zone and Princes Mall will have our value and convenience retailers.

"This will be achieved by moving existing retailers around, bringing new retailers in, and, most importantly, creating bigger units to meet today's retail demand."

Arcadia already has Topshop and Topman stores at East Kilbride Shopping Centre, but the new space, will include a new Miss Selfridge outlet.

The unit is due to open in November.

Mall bosses said the centre is in "advanced talks" with a number of other major retailers and hope to announce further lettings soon.

They say plans could see a number of smaller units revamped to create five large stores, ranging from 8000 to 22,500 sq ft, across Centre West, Princes Mall and Plaza.

Mr McLelland, added: "There is still a great deal of work to do.

"However, we are now moving in the right direction and the plans will ensure East Kilbride Shopping Centre plays a key role in Scotland's retail community in the years ahead."

rebecca.gray@ heraldandtimes.co.uk