A BID to increase the size of a major Bristol shopping centre could harm Swindon town centre trade, say objectors.

Plans to increase The Mall at Cribbs Causeway by 50 per cent have gone before South Gloucestershire Council and Swindon Borough Council’s Forward Swindon formally objected.

South Gloucestershire councillors voted to defer the decision because of additional information and objections from Swindon and other surrounding towns.

Forward Swindon, which drives regeneration and economic development in the town, has voiced concerns over the proposed development’s impact on retail in the town centre.

It says it had serious concerns over flaws in the applicant’s Retail Impact Assessment and regarding the potential impact of the proposed expansion scheme on the regeneration of central Swindon.

In a statement Forward Swindon said: “No assessment has been undertaken on the impact of the proposed scheme on the regeneration plans for central Swindon.

“Thus, based on the available evidence, FSL objects strongly to the proposed scheme and is of the opinion that it should be refused planning permission.”

The Mall’s £300m plan would increase the size of the shopping complex by at least half with new shops, bars, restaurants and housing also included.

A new hotel and public space would be used for concerts and special events.

There are also plans for a new multi-storey car park and bus station, with around 100,000 square foot set aside for retail use and 82,000 square foot reserved for leisure use.

Developers say it will create thousands of jobs and boost spending by millions.

Last month FI Real Estate Management, which runs the Brunel Centre, objected to a plan to develop land around the Oasis Centre into a leisure complex, due to the belief it would pull trade away from the town centre.

“Swindon town centre is particularly vulnerable to additional competition, suffering from a high proportion of vacancies, limited occupier interest and low levels of footfall particularly in some areas of the town centre,” they said at the time.

The proposal comes at a difficult time for the high street with Priceless, Next, Phones-4U, Oxfam and Monsoon Accessorize all shutting up shop in recent months. There are also at least 15 empty shop spaces in the town centre.

A spokesman for South Gloucestershire Council said the plans were likely to go back before the committee in March or April.