Proposals for a new retail outlet centre have taken a significant step forward with the submission of the detailed designs for the scheme to Tewkesbury Borough Council.

A reserved matters application for the scheme, known as Designer Outlet Cotswolds, sets out the detail of phase one of the centre which will provide 140,000sq ft of retail space and a 70,000sq ft garden centre with parking for 2,100 cars.

The proposals include the layout of the centre with 76 retail units, car parking, elevations and landscaping in line with the outline planning permission already secured.

The centre is located by Junction 9 of the M5 near Tewkesbury and next to the A46.

Outline planning permission was granted by the borough council in 2018 with exploratory archaeological work beginning in March.

Construction should begin later this year with an opening in autumn 2022.

Simon Tothill, property and development director for Robert Hitchins Ltd, said: '"We are extremely excited to be delivering this state-of-the-art shopping and leisure destination which will serve an extensive regional catchment area and provide thousands of jobs.

"A huge amount of design work has been undertaken to ensure that we deliver an attractive and high-quality 'village' environment which will work for our retail and leisure brand partners and customers alike.

''We have received a significant amount of interest from prospective tenants who are keen to be part of this exciting new leisure destination and, despite lockdown and COVID-19, we are still on course and targeting to begin building this year and to open in 2022."

He said news relating to a proposed garden centre operator is likely to be announced in the coming weeks.

Set to open in two phases, Designer Outlet Cotswolds will feature aspirational brands across fashion, leisurewear, footwear and lifestyle along with restaurants and leisure outlets.

The reserved matters planning application can be viewed on the website of Tewkesbury Borough Council.