Debenhams has signed to open a 60,000 sq ft department store at The Coliseum Shopping Park in Chester.

The store at Schroder Property’s scheme will comprise 30,000 sq ft across the ground floor with a 30,000 sq ft mezzanine offering the full ‘Designers at Debenhams’ range. 

Schroders will now make a planning application to Cheshire West and Chester Council for the additional floor space and adaption of existing units with a store opening date of 2013/early 2014.

The Coliseum Shopping Park is a 150,000 sq ft shopping park located on Junction 10 of the M53 Motorway, approximately 10 miles from Chester.

Nick Montgomery, fund manager at Schroder Property, said: “This is major step forward with our strategy to re-position The Coliseum Shopping Park as a high quality, fashion-led destination, and follows the significant recent lettings to H&M and Next.”

Rob Hadfield, head of property at Debenhams, said: “This store represents a landmark for Debenhams illustrating flexibility with our formats to reflect a truly multi channel retailer at the same time as making significant investment in our existing Chester City Centre store.”

McMullen Wilson and CBRE acted for Schroder Property and Anderson Harkins acted for Debenhams.