SHOPPERS will soon be able to move seamlessly from Canal Walk into the Brunel Centre’s flagship food court.

The Crossing, a 16,000sq ft dining complex featuring 17 new brands, is set to open in the spring.

Work is now under way to prepare for the installation of an escalator which will transport visitors up from the street below.

Jane Stewart, the marketing manager at the Brunel Centre, said the project had the potential to transform the area.

While the arrival of the food court marks an exciting start to year, the continuing challenges facing the retail sector are widely acknowledged.

The look and feel of the high street is changing across the country.

Jane said: “Retail is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy but consumers are changing their habits and technology is changing fast.

“Millennials shop more frequently but when they choose a shopping destination they are much more likely to choose one with coffee shops and cafes.

“They’re looking for the right retail mix - one with fast food restaurants and entertainment outlets.

“I think it’s really important that people start to understand these changes.”

The disappearance of previous household names such as BHS has left difficult to fill gaps in many town centres.

In Swindon the challenge is intensified by the close proximity of the higher-end Designer Outlet.

But Jane thinks that should be seen as an opportunity, rather than an obstacle.

“We should embrace it,” she said. “But we need to work together and improve things like signage and the routes between the outlet and the town centre.”

Despite all the challenges, the past 12 months saw a more than three per cent increase in footfall at the Brunel Centre in a year where the national average reduced.

With The Crossing set to open its doors soon, centre bosses will be hoping that they can continue to buck that trend in 2017.