The Pavilions shopping centre in Uxbridge is to undergo a dramatic overhaul to make way for a 'major national retailer', after planning permission was granted.

Fifteen existing shops along the centre's Chequers Walk Mall will be consolidated, together with the mall itself, to create one giant unit.

The two-floor, 4,650m² space will be occupied by the new retailer, which has long been rumoured to be Primark.

However, the discount clothing chain is remaining tight-lipped about the rumours, as is the company that owns the shopping centre, LaSalle Investment Management.

Hillingdon councillor Jonathan Bianco, cabinet member for finance, property and business services, also would not confirm the move, but he welcomed the development generally.

He said: “I think generally it must help. Uxbridge can always do with strengthening. We have got plenty of competition so a major retailer taking a store in that location can only be good news.

“A big store instead of 15 little ones is obviously a good thing. Hopefully shoppers will spend money not only in this unit but in Uxbridge generally and it will help anchor Uxbridge as a retail destination.”

The High Street shopping centre, which houses around 90 stores, was built in 1971 as an open-roof facility.

It was refurbished in the mid 1980s, when its open walkways were covered with glazed roofs.

The current plans represent what will be the most significant development of the centre since then.

Property firm LaSalle Investment Management bought the 32,568m² shopping centre for £64.5 million last year.

The redevelopment of the Chequers Square mall area, which will also involve installing a mezzanine floor, is only the first of three stages in the company's long-term plan for the centre.

The second and third stages have not yet received planning permission – the applicant needed approval for the initial phase before it could submit further proposals – but would involve first remodelling and refurbishing the both Market Square mall entrance and the High Street exterior.

The third and final phase would be to improve the public spaces surrounding the adjoining Tesco and install a lift to the centre's car park with direct access to the supermarket.

The plans for the first phase of the development were approved, subject to legal agreement, at a council meeting on Wednesday, October 29.

In documents lodged with Hillingdon Council, LaSalle Investment Management says the 15 affected units, some of which are empty, are not attracting enough shoppers, whereas the new store will.

The documents state: “In order to attract and retain quality retailers within the town centre, it is important that opportunities are taken to offer flexible layouts that maximise floor areas and that increase the retail offer available to operators.

“The Pavilions continues to maximise occupancy. However, it is clear from current demand that small units are becoming less attractive and this 'corner' of the existing centre is becoming underused.

“The owner of the centre is therefore keen to pursue the opportunity of introducing a major high street brand that will add significantly to the viability of the existing shopping centre, as well as the wider town centre.”