DEPARTMENT store giant Beatties is the major player which has been selected as the bedrock for the multi-million pound revamp of Time Square, the Guardian can reveal.

Property developers Sellar are at an advanced stage in negotiations with Beatties for an 80,000 square foot department store to anchor their new shopping centre.

But the department store is adamant that it will only finalise the deal if it is the only new major player in the town centre.

Rival proposals, put forward by Legal and General for Golden Square, also hinge on a major department store playing a key role.

In a letter to Sellar, Chris Jones, managing director of Beatties, confirms that the chain want to move into Warrington.

But he later adds: "Our concern is that there is insufficient retail demand within Warrington to sustain two new department stores and until you can prove to our satisfaction that your scheme is the only one to proceed we cannot progress further."

Negotiations

Mr Jones also stresses that he is looking forward to moving forward with the Warrington deal.

John Davies, Sellar's property group director, told the Guardian: "We are delighted that Beatties is showing such strong interest in Time Square for their new department store.

"We always said that we would attract a high quality retailer and we are close to finalising negotiations.

"However the future of Time Square will be destroyed if the borough council gives planning permission for the Golden Square extension.

"Beatties has made it clear that there is not room for two new department stores in the town centre and that they will go elsewhere if the Golden Square extension is given consent.

"Without a department store tenant the development cannot proceed."

Mr Davies said that the Time Square development is "ready to go", subject to a decision being made on Golden Square.

Councillors are set to meet next month to decide on the Golden Square package.