Marks & Spencer has confirmed it will close its existing city centre store the day before its new shop opens in the Westfield development.

Concerns have been raised that other retailers will relocate to the shopping centre, leaving behind empty units in prominent city centre locations.

Conservative regeneration spokesman for Bradford Council Rebecca Poulsen said although she welcomed the development she worried it could act as a “whirlpool, sucking in existing retailers from across the city and leaving key streets with yet more vacant units”.

M&S announced it would be an anchor tenant for the Broadway development earlier this week. Its new 63,000 sq ft store will be more than twice the size of the Darley Street shop.

A spokesman for M&S said: “The existing city centre location on Darley Street will trade up until the day before the new store opens. All staff will be relocated to the new store.

“The new store will be over twice the size of the existing store and will offer the very best of M&S in Bradford city centre.”

Retailer Next, which is set to occupy a 32,000sq ft store at Westfield , said it intended to keep its Forster Square shop open. A spokesman for the company said: “The store at Westfield will be in addition to this.”

Councillor David Green , leader of Bradford Council, said discussions were under way into what could be done for the city centre if and when retailers relocate from other Bradford locations to Westfield.

“This is one of the reasons why we have been discussing in general terms how we need to look at the city centre and have a plan in place for when Westfield opens,” he said. “That planning is ongoing.”

He said the Council was putting in place the infrastructure during the development process, to make the transition as “seamless” as possible.

He said it was looking at how to deal with any shops that may be left empty and their neighbouring businesses.

A Westfield spokesman said: “The commitment of Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and Next is a strong vote of confidence in Bradford and the Broadway scheme.

“These major brands will help attract further retailer investment in Bradford.”