It will be capable of accommodating 70 staff and see a building currently hosting one of the Quays' popular restaurants expand upwards - three-fold.

But who is the tenant?

That is a question still on the table, but whether the new development planned by Quays-owner Peel Holdings will get the go-ahead from planners is now answered.

Subject to conditions the new development has been approved by the city council, and will see two more floors added to a single-storey building in the heart of centre - adding more than 868 extra square metres of new space, 842 of that for new offices and 26 sq metres extra on the ground floor

It is not known whether the build is speculative or whether the owners of the waterside outlet and leisure centre has a client in mind already.

Neither is it known at this stage what will happen to the Italian-themed restaurant Carluccios, whose building forms the footprint of the development.

There is no suggestion it will close, move, or is looking to expand as part of the plans.

A report from planners said "The applicant has requested a five-year permission because of uncertainty regarding the existing tenants, and a desire for comfort to the applicant of being able to deliver the scheme and accommodate existing and future tenants. In this instance no objection is raised to this request.

"The proposal is considered to be acceptable and accordingly permission should be granted subject to conditions."

The planning application was for the "partial demolition of existing building and erection of three-storey building, creating 930 sqm of gross external office floorspace including 904 sqm at the first and second floor levels and 26 sqm at the ground floor level, external alterations to the existing buildings and the removal of the existing roof to the adjacent arcade and associated public realm improvements to create an open walkway, including provision of festoon lighting."

According to a design and access statement, called 'Block O - proposed office building', drawn up by Bristol-based planning consultants WYG, the scheme will involve "reconfiguring the existing food and beverage unit fronting Merchants Road with a target floor space of 2,000 sq ft".

It will also "form a new retail unit fronting High Orchard Street with a minimum floor area of 1,000 ft2 (92 sq m).

Peel's ongoing investment in the centre is said to have seen visitor footfall rise from under one million in 2009 to 6.7 million visitors in 2018 with the average customer spend rising by 29 per cent.

Peel Outlets was established in 2006 as a subsidiary company to develop and manage its outlet portfolio. Peel Lifestyle Outlets, is the owner-operator of Gloucester Quays.