Fashion retailer River Island is the latest high street name confirmed to open a flagship store in Bradford’s Broadway shopping centre.

Westfield, the company behind the scheme, announced today that the leading UK retailer will have an expanded shop in the city centre development, where contractors started preparatory work on last week.

The new, larger 12,000 sq ft store is said to benefit from the modern retail offering at the centre, including double-height frontages and the latest interior design.

Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, Next and WH Smith have already been named as tenants at the city centre site.

Westfield chief operating officer for UK and Europe Peter Miller said: “Today’s announcement of River Island confirms that the Broadway shopping centre will be a major fashion destination for Bradford shoppers and the wider region.

“CACI, one of the UK’s leading retail analysts, recently declared Bradford in the top ten new UK retail opportunities. We are seeing increasing confidence in Bradford from retailers and the Broadway development has now more than 50 per cent floor space committed.

“In the last month we have seen strong retailer momentum and have started the essential early site preparation works. We are now in the final stages of pre-lets to facilitate the start of construction by the end of 2013.”

Westfield took over the site from developer Stannifer ten years ago and there was much uncertainty about its future.

Originally the centre was expected to be completed by 2008, but the tough economic climate led to it being undeveloped and work on the £320m project is now estimated to finish by 2015.

A River Island spokesman said: “We are very pleased to open a larger River Island store in the Broadway shopping centre. River Island will now have stores in all Westfield shopping centres in the UK.”

Bradford Council leader, Councillor David Green, said the announcement was “another significant step forward”.

“Major retailers are continuing to show their strong confidence in Bradford city centre and its potential to become the shopping destination for local people and the wider area.

“The Broadway shopping centre development will provide jobs and support our local economy, creating opportunities to benefit local businesses in the construction phase as well as when the centre is open and significantly increasing footfall in the city.”

Westfield estimates the Broadway scheme has a weighted annual spend potential of £623m, which is forecast to grow by more than £250m on completion of the development.