EASTLEIGH town centre is set for a new look.

Plans have been unveiled for the empty buildings on High Street, Wells Place and Leigh Road.

Eastleigh BID, the organisation aimed promoting the town centre, has confirmed that a new bar is set to open on the site of the former JKS Wine Bar on High Street, which closed nearly four years ago.

The name of the new owner has not been revealed yet but Eastleigh BID has confirmed that the bar will stay open in the evening in a bid to boost nightlife in the town centre.

Diner Roosters Piri Piri is to open a new branch in the building previously occupied by Planet Games on High Street, while a new off licence will open on Leigh Road where the Tropic Exotic pet shop used to be.

Meanwhile, a beauty salon is set to open in an empty building in Wells Place after a planning application concerning the unit once occupied by Leighton Opticians at Swan Centre was submitted to the council.

Teresa Swann, Eastleigh BID manager, welcomed the news.

She said: “It’s great that we’ve got all these new businesses coming to Eastleigh.

“It shows confidence in the town.

“At a time when people shop online there are still people who want the convenience of shopping locally and it’s great that we’ve got people coming from all over to shop in Eastleigh town centre.

“The new businesses wouldn’t come if they didn’t think it was a growing place for visitors.”

Ms Swann said footfall in the town centre rose by 1.7 per cent in the last year and recent data revealed that only 5.6 per cent of buildings were currently empty.

She also confirmed that the old post office building in High Street was going to auction after a number of people showed interest, although there were no plans yet for the building once occupied by Store 21 on Market Street and the empty building next to the Eastleigh BID office in Wells Place.

The news was also welcomed by Eastleigh MP Mims Davies and council leader Keith House, who said the new shops will help keep Eastleigh vibrant.