FIVE NEW retailers have announced plans to open stores in The Broadway shopping centre in Bradford, it has been announced.

Accessorize, The Body Shop, Deichmann, Occasions and The Works have confirmed they will join a lineup including Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, H&M, Next, JD Sports, New Look, Topshop/Topman and River Island.

Accessorize, which sells fashion accessories, will come to Bradford for the first time by opening a store in The Broadway.

It will be joined by The Body Shop, which sells specialist make-up and skincare products and Deichmann, Europe’s largest footwear retailer with a wide offering of shoes.

Occasions, an independent specialist greetings card, chocolate and gifts retailer and The Works, one of Britain’s largest stockists of art and craft materials, stationery, books, toys and gifts, will also be opening at The Broadway, completing this latest series of sign-ups.

The Westfield development, which is due to open on Thursday, November 5, is expected to create over 2,500 jobs in Bradford and generate a 40 per cent increase in city centre footfall.

Yesterday, Debenhams announced it was on the look-out for more than 200 people to work in its new store in The Broadway, with Craig Baldock now recruited as the new store manager.

Keith Mabbett, director of leasing at Westfield, said:“It gives me great pride to be able to announce five more great names have signed up to The Broadway.

“These new names mean that more than 80 per cent of the retail space is committed and continue to show how The Broadway is attracting new retailers to Bradford City Centre.”

Holly Ledson, Property Director, Accessorize, said: “As a leading fashion accessory retailer, we are delighted to bring Accessorize to Bradford and look forward to a fantastic opening.”

Kerry Hughes, Property Director at The Works, said: “We are delighted to be opening at The Broadway with an amazing range of art and craft, books and stationery in our family-friendly new store. We are very confident that the local customers will be excited by the great range of products on offer at The Works.”

Terry Harvey, of Occasions, said: “Bradford is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK and this is exactly why we’ve chosen to open a new store in The Broadway. We can’t wait to bring our great range of specialist greetings cards, gifts, and our new chocolate brand Chocl, to Bradford when The Broadway opens later this year.”

Robert Field, of Deichmann, said: “The Broadway is well designed and the city centre location is a great setting for our new Deichmann Store. Bradford really is booming at the moment, with The Broadway being another big step forward for the city centre – a step forward that Deichmann is proud to be involved in.”

Cllr David Green, Leader of Bradford Council, said: "I'm delighted that The Broadway is now more than 80 per cent let and more shops means more jobs and choice for people in the district. I'm sure people will be eager to take a look at the long-awaited shopping centre which is opening just seven weeks before Christmas."