TWO major retailers in Glasgow are going head to head over plans for a major extension at an East End mall.

TWO major retailers in Glasgow are going head to head over plans for a major extension at an East End mall.

Owners of The Fort have applied for permission to extend the 37,000sq m Easterhouse complex by 16,000sq m.

Almost half of the £25million expansion would be occupied by Marks & Spencer, creating up to 300 new jobs.

Developer Hercules Unit Trust predicts another 200 jobs will be created by the expansion on top of those in M&S 100 in retail and the rest during construction.

But bosses of John Lewis in Buchanan Galleries have objected to the expansion plan, saying they are unhappy about the impact on their store and other city centre outlets.

However, city council planning chiefs are in favour of increasing the size of The Fort and have recommended the planning committee gives it the go-ahead when it meets tomorrow.

A planning department spokesman said: "The planning application comes with a retail impact assessment which demonstrates there will be minimum impact on the city centre and Parkhead and little or no impact on other centres.

"The council has negotiated a developer contribution of £10m towards town centre improvements such as the visitor centre, sports centre, civic hub and pedestrian improvements."

The horseshoe-shaped shopping centre in the East End cost £200m to build in 2004 and now has more than 70 stores which have created 1400 jobs. Of those, 900 have been filled by local people.

Fort manager Phil Goodman said earlier this year: "M&S has been inspired by our trading figures and opening hours, coupled with the work we do with the local community."

Councillors will also be asked to back plans for a new local shopping centre in Easterhouse.

Hercules Unit Trust wants to build a complex opposite Shandwick Square shops in Westerhouse Road. When it is complete, shops will be able to transfer from rundown Shandwick Square, which is to be demolished.

The planning spokesman said: "Consultants looked at this site and found that Shandwick Square was failing commercially and did not present a positive image.

"They suggested it should be reduced and sited across the road.

"It is thought that a large number of key occupants have expressed a strong interest in moving.

"Shandwick Square is declining and will continue to decline and if we do nothing positive, we will lose the people who currently provide services there.

"This proposal is really good news for the area."