DEVELOPERS have unveiled plans for a £25m pound expansion at a shopping centre on the edge of York, creating an extra 175 jobs.

Monks Cross Shopping say the changes are the minimum it needs to do to keep the centre viable after two of its main occupants, Marks and Spencer and Next confirmed they were opening new stores in the nearby Oakgate scheme beside a new community stadium.

Under the proposals, the existing Marks & Spencer, Sports Direct and Laura Ashley units would be converted into one anchor store of 70,000 sq ft and a second anchor store of 60,000 sq ft created.

The centre warned that 40 per cent of its retailers had said they wanted to leave, or needed units of a different size or position.

The 15-year-old shopping centre has had no major works for a number of years and previous plans involving extending two units into car parking space and adding mezzanine floors to existing units were turned down last May.

Eric Hall, of property company TDH Estates said the new plans involved no new buildings, but changing existing areas to increase floorspace.

He added: “The priority has to be to attract key retailers to Monks Cross Shopping Park for the benefit of the city of York and the wider area. We feel this proposal would do just that and position York and particularly Monks Cross Shopping as a retail destination of choice with much to offer.”