HIGH level of demand from restaurant companies for units has led to plans for a food hub in the Brunel Shopping Centre being extended.

Last year, it was revealed the section of centre going over the street is going to be transformed into a hub known as The Crossing.

When opened it will provide a town centre food offering into the evening and will be accessible via a new escalator when the rest of shops are closed.

But when FI Real Estate, which manages the centre, went out to find tenants for the hub it received a high level of interest from restaurant companies eager to get into the new development.

So instead of just being located on the first floor, the plan is now for a number of shops along Canal Walk to also be converted into restaurant space and an outdoor seating area will also be created.

FI has not revealed the companies it is in talks with but said the development, which is being described as a seven-figure investment, will help to revitalise the town centre.

“A lot of major cities have undergone major redevelopment in recent years,” said Bernard Ferris, the Head of Retail Property at FI.

“But when you look at it this has been mostly leisure led. What The Crossing will do is provide a daytime and night-time restaurant offer which we think will boost the whole of Swindon.

“There are empty units in the town so bringing in an alternative leisure option gives people a reason to come into the town.

“It will make Swindon’s night-time economy far more attractive.”

With Regent Circus and the proposal to convert the Tented Market into restaurants, there have been questions about whether there is the demand in Swindon but FI says adequate research has been done.

Asset manager James Raspin said: “When you look at somewhere like Cheltenham that must have about 100 restaurants.

“The response we have had suggests restaurant companies feel there is the demand and when were first looking the hub we engaged with leading experts.”

Bernard added: “It used to be that areas of shopping centres dedicated to food was only three per cent. That is now around 10 per cent so I am not surprised at the interest.”

Talks have been held with existing tenants and many of them will move to other available units. As a result, once the new restaurants move in, more jobs will be created.

At the moment, units in the Brunel Centre have been boarded up in preparation for work to begin.