A DEDICATED food court area will be created at The Brunel in a revamp aimed at revitalising the shopping centre and strengthening the link between its two sites.

Planning permission for the seven-unit food cluster and a new escalator direct from Canal Walk was granted by Swindon Borough Council yesterday.

The new food hub will be branded as The Crossing and look to complement the existing the shopping centre, rather than simply merge under the same name.

DLA Architecture, a Leeds firm acting as the planning agent, said: “The introduction of the food cluster is intended to offer customers a new experience by providing a new and improved food offer within the existing shopping centre.

“The location of the food cluster has been carefully selected to strengthen the links between the arcade and the plaza elements of the shopping centre by utilising the existing first floor bridge link.

“The proposed alterations facilitate several different food operators to be sited together to create an active, vibrant zone at the heart of the centre.

“It is intended that the food cluster will create its own identity to complement the rest of the Brunel and will be branded The Crossing.

“A key element to the success of the proposals is the introduction of a new access directly from Canal Walk via an enclosed up-only escalator which discharges directly into the heart of the new development area.”

Coun Bob Wright (Lab, Central) said: “The escalator, if it’s central to the crossing, spoils the line of sight down from the square (Wharf Green) to The Parade.

“If it were to go on the right hand side as you are looking at the square, there is no shop entrance there and that would work quite well.

“I expect all new businesses to come in with ideas of attracting custom and speak in positive terms.

“The reality is, how vibrant and exciting it is will be judged by the customer base.”

Aside from the new, enclosed escalator from the main thoroughfare, the most striking change will be the bridge, which will have its cladding and living wall removed.

The bridge will become glazed and transparent, with the current living wall on the South West side of the bridge being moved to Havelock Square under the plans.

The plans, submitted on August 18, are part of a wider reinvigoration strategy for the shopping centre, which has seen new competition from the Regent Circus development in recent months.

The food court’s opening hours will be from 9am until 7pm through the week, including Saturday, with a 10.30am until 4.30pm opening on Sundays and bank holidays.

There is no published date for work to start, but planning permission will expire on October 16, 2018.