A FLAGSHIP £150m extension to Southampton WestQuay shopping centre is on track to be completed within three years despite the developer prioritising overseas projects.

Council chiefs remain confident Hammerson – the firm behind the ambitious Watermark WestQuay development – will begin work next year after announcing it will look to complete major projects in France before those in the UK.

Hammerson said it saw stronger improvements in the economy across The Channel and will look to invest £430m in projects in Paris and Marseille with UK construction jobs on hold until at least 2011.

However, the property giant last night moved to confirm the strategy would not alter its vision for Southamp-ton, which includes plans for new shops, restaurants, bars, a luxury 14-screen cinema and the creation of 1,000 jobs.

The company has now signed a legally binding deal with Southampton City Council over the privately funded scheme.

A spokesperson for Ham-merson said: “Work will continue on Watermark WestQuay, as it has done over the past 12 months on the planning and design of the scheme and discussions with key retailers.

“Signing the development agreement is an important part of the process and the next stage will be to secure anchor tenants for the retail and leisure elements of the scheme.

“The recession has had an impact on tenant demand which is vital to the success of our schemes and although the UK reported modest growth in the last quarter of 2009 the retail market currently remains mixed.”

Southampton City Council’s deputy leader Royston Smith, who has called the scheme the “jewel in the crown” of the city’s developments, said the firm had briefed the council on its French interests but said that Southampton was “still a priority” in the UK. “They gave us no reason to doubt their sincerity,” he said.

Cllr Smith maintained Watermark WestQuay could be completed by 2013 under an “indicative” two-year building timetable, although Hammerson have yet to give such a commitment.

Using the city’s medieval walls as a backdrop and a focus, the 12-acre centre is organised around a 3,500 sq m public plaza, complete with water features, designed to host a range of events from farmers’ markets to live music and entertainment and even an extension of Southampton Boat Show.