CENTRALE is in store for £50 million redevelopment, its owner Hammerson has revealed.

A cinema, new restaurants, more shops and better access will all form part of the revamp.

The announcement comes just a week after Westfield revealed it wanted to redevelop the Whitgift Centre into its third London-based shopping centre.

And Hammerson – which only bought Centrale in March this year for £100 million – this week hinted it might also be interested in challenging Westfield for the redevelopment rights.

Speaking exclusively to the Advertiser, Hammerson's head of retail development, Robin Dobson, said: "We are here very much for the long term.

"We saw buying Centrale as a great opportunity to bring in new retail and expand existing retailers."

The plans include widening the mix of shops in the centre by providing a new building in place of an existing three-storey part of the centre on the corner of Frith Road and Keeley Road. The proposal was due to be given its first public airing at a meeting of the council's strategic planning committee last night (Thursday).

Meanwhile, one of the major players in the future of the Whitgift Centre has indicated it is unhappy with last week's announcement about a takeover by Westfield.

Royal London, which owns a major part of the centre's lease, said it was taken by surprise at the news of a deal between Westfield and the centre's freeholders, the Whitgift Foundation, to look into a redevelopment plan.

Commenting on the deal, a statement from Royal London said: "This has taken place without prior consultation with Royal London or, to our knowledge, the Whitgift Trust."