Developers of the planned £200 million Broadway shopping scheme expect to sign contracts in the next month with Bradford Council - despite the shock closure of the C&A store.

The store in Broadway would have been relocated during the construction of the massive scheme and was expected to take one of the major units when it was completed.

But today Richard Weatherhead for the developers, Knottingley-based Caddick Construction, said its plans were not affected.

He said: "The relocation of the shop would have been extremely costly and we have a number of major retail stores interested in the big units."

He said the company was in talks over one of the scheme's key elements - a large departmental store on the Little Germany side.

Mr Weatherhead said he expected to sign the development agreement with the Council in the next three to four weeks. The developers would then start compulsory-purchase order procedures for the properties which would need to be demolished.

The plans include a proposal to pull down Petergate but shopkeepers there have protested about the plan and lack of consultation.

A spokesman from British Home Stores, the other main Broadway store, said it had no plans to move out of Bradford.

The vast covered shopping scheme would mean the demolition of Central House -- including Broadway -- Forster House and Midland House.

It would include four large retail units, 75 shops, two public squares, restaurants and a cinema.

The developers want to be on site in two years' time, with the first shops opening three years later.

C&A is axeing all its 109 stores in the country, with a total loss of 4,800 jobs.

Chairman of Bradford Retail Action Group Jeff Frankel said: "It is a blow to the city, but it isn't anything the city has caused.

"I hope there will not be a long period with the shop unit closed, although the situation is different because of the redevelopment."

The 36 staff at the city's Broadway store were left reeling as the company told all its workers of its news to close all its 109 stores in the UK and Ireland, with a total loss of the 4,800 jobs.

The company said the closures were sparked by its failure to compete in the High Street and after last year's loss of £250 million.

Councillor Simon Cooke, Executive Member for Regeneration, said yesterday: "This is extremely disappointing news, but at least they are not just dumping Bradford."

The store will close in January and manager Paul Rawcliffe said every effort would be made to find alternative employment for staff.

He said: "This is a big blow for Bradford because the city has lost a number of prestigious city-centre stores over the years. "