THE MALL could be set for expansion after its owners revealed plans for major redevelopment of the shopping centre.

A consultation will be held this weekend on the plans, which could create about 3,750 more permanent jobs at the site.

As part of the plans a large extension will be built from the main front entrance of the site in place of the existing water feature.

The main feature of this would be the introduction of a new anchor store - similar to the John Lewis and Marks and Spencer stores currently at either end of The Mall.

The plans also include an overhaul of the public transport links to the site as well as creating new pedestrian and cycle links.

A new pedestrian walkway would link the proposed large-scale development of Filton Airfield with the new extension to the Mall.

A bus hub will also be built to provide better facilities for people who travel to The Mall by public transport.

To compensate for the loss of parking spaces as a consequence of the development, the plans would also include a new multi-storey car park which would be built in the first phase of the development.

A covered outdoor walkway will connect the shopping centre to a new community space, about the size of a football pitch, which could be used to display major sporting events or performances.

Philip Vaughan of M&G Real Estate, one of the joint owners of The Mall, said: “Public transport is really important to our vision of what we want The Mall to be.

“Whilst our public transport connections are very good, users of public transport do not have a good experience at the moment.

“With so much development proposed for the area we need to make changes to The Mall to make sure the experience offered is the best it can be.

As part of the proposals the subway which links The Mall with the entertainment park including the Vue cinema and bowling alley will be renovated and 150 flats will be built.

A 200-bed hotel will also be built as part of the plans which is hoped will encourage visitors to spend the night at the site.

Currently, around 6,000 people are employed as permanent members of staff at The Mall and these proposals could bring that figure closer to 10,000 with another 3,000 jobs created during construction.

They hope that a planning application for the development will be submitted by the end of the year.