The Mall at Cribbs Causeway: Town centres fear expansion plan

The Mall at Cribbs Causeway is just north of Bristol and opened in 1998

A decision on £300m expansion plans for an out-of-town shopping centre near Bristol has been delayed - as critics say it will hurt towns across the West.

Plans to increase the size of The Mall at Cribbs Causeway by 50% went before South Gloucestershire Council on Thursday but a decision was deferred.

Councils and business groups say shops in Bristol, Swindon, Gloucestershire and Weston-super-Mare could be hit.

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

Plans include a new hotel and 150 flats

The plans include new shops, restaurants, a hotel, multi-storey car park, bus station, 150 flats and a public space which will be used for concerts and special events.

The Mall has 145 shops and restaurants. It opened in 1998.

Among those objecting is Bristol Mayor George Ferguson, who says the "massive" development is "bad news for Bristol and Bath".

The Forest of Dean District Council in Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset Council, Newport City Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council in Somerset and Forward Swindon Ltd also raised concerns.

Ken Simpson, South West chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said High Streets as far afield as Newport, Taunton, Exeter, Weston-super-Mare and Bristol would feel the impact.

John Hirst, chief executive of tourism body Destination Bristol, said some shops in Cribbs and in Bristol centre were already empty.

The officers' report to South Gloucestershire Council, recommending approval, said they believed the development would "not have a significantly adverse impact on any town centre" and there were "no grounds" for refusing planning permission.

A spokesman for South Gloucestershire Council said the plans were likely to go back before the committee in March or April: "Additional information has been received which needs to be considered before councillors debate the application."