SWINDON’S high street looks to be booming, with local trading figures exceeding the national average The Office for National Statistics has revealedsales rose 4.3 per cent in December across the country compared to the previous year, with the Brunel shopping centre performing better than the national trends.

Jane Stewart, the Brunel’s marketing manager, said: “Trading figures for the centre were very good in November and December; our retailers reported an increase of about 8 per cent on the same period last year.

“There were plenty of great offers and discounts available so sales initiatives, such as Black Friday seem to have really encouraged people to spend.”

Meanwhile, McArthurGlen’s Swindon Designer Outlet enjoyed a record-breaking Christmas that saw it have a 16 per cent increase in sales – compared to the previous year – between November 6 and December 28.

A large part of the centre’s success is thanks to the new Long Shop area which opened in November.

Stores including Clarks, Paperchase, Ecco, Ghost, Jigsaw and Phase Eight have opened as part of the £35m regeneration of the Grade II-listed building.

Tina Cumpstey, centre manager of the Swindon Designer Outlet, said: “Following our record Black Friday weekend, Swindon Designer Outlet achieved double figure sale increases and record-br eaking footfall during and after Christmas.

“We are confident that our unbeatable savings, coupled with our recent centre regeneration, offered our shoppers a distinctive, first-class shopping experience that they cannot find anywhere else.”

Heydar Faramarzi, chairman of Swindon Chamber of Commerce, is thrilled by the town’s retail success.

He said: “This is fantastic news as we keep hearing that the economy is growing and we are seeing the evidence of it in these figures.

“I think we are in a very healthy situation in Swindon especially when you consider the great figures we saw at the outlet centre a few weeks back.

“Everything looks to be going fantastically well.”

In the spring, the remainder of the outlet centre’s extension will be completed. It will see another 25 shops open, taking the number at the centre to 120 and adding about 50,000sq ft of new retail space.