THE Mall Marlands shopping centre is on course for its second major makeover in five years.

Owners The Mall Corporation are planning to build a new "showcase" entrance to the centre by constructing a £2.3m covered walkway leading from Above Bar to Manchester Street - the current "front door" of the Southampton centre.

The new arcade would form a canopy over Manchester Street, leading from an entrance which would project into Above Bar. At the first-floor level of the new walkway, which would be made of glass, a food court would be built.

The roof of the walkway would be glazed in clear reflective glass, sweeping out over Above Bar.

There would also be new paving inside the walkway and a new escalator, if the scheme is approved by city councillors.

The Mall Marlands was opened in 1991 by controversial tycoon Gerald Ronson as part of his Heron property empire. It was taken over by The Mall Corporation two years ago.

More visible

Jerry Stampfer, general manager of the Mall Marlands, told the Daily Echo that the revamp was the first in a number of improvements scheduled to take place at the mall.

He said: "The purpose of the work is to improve circulation through the mall, particularly in the upstairs area which has always been a bit quiet. It will also improve the Manchester Street area, which has become poorly maintained.

"The new entrance will bring our presence right out into Above Bar so that we become a bit more visible."

He denied that the improvements were prompted by increased competition from neighbouring WestQuay.

He said: "When WestQuay opened we were hit but our footfall has been up recently by an average of 11 per cent and we are very happy with the progress here. We have had a couple of good lettings, including the opening of Starbucks on the corner, and there will be more changes during the course of the year."

The plans will be discussed by the city council's Planning and Rights of Way Panel at a meeting tomorrow.