Some shoppers have welcomed the announcement of more top designer names for the new £440m Westgate Centre.

Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger were among popular brands confirmed for the shopping centre in Oxford, due to reopen in October 2017 following a £440m facelift.

The announcement came on the same day as Queen Street was closed to buses and taxis for the next five months as building work takes place.

Some shoppers said they were impressed with the new brands announced, and welcomed the pedestrianisation of Queen Street, which could become permanent by the time the new centre opens.

But others said on oxfordmail.co.uk they were not convinced by such a large investment.

Localladoxon said such a large investment would "become defunct" in 10 years.

He added: "The High Street is dying, only retail parks with decent parking and transport links and online retailers will succeed in the long run."

But Stewartb1974 said: "This is the best thing to happen to the retail sector in Oxford."

Ginette Gower, spokeswoman for the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce, said: "This latest announcement of new names for the Westgate Centre reflects the way retailers view this opportunity.

"John Lewis is going to have a massive impact - the next year is going to go very quickly and Oxford will be competing with Reading and Milton Keynes."

Music student Ella Lovell, 17, from Abingdon, said: “I have worked as a sales assistant for New Look and the Westgate Centre expanding is good news for Oxford – there will be lots of parttime jobs created.”

Developers Westgate Oxford Alliance said there were 22 new confirmed retailers and restaurants, making a total of 35 brands committed to the scheme.

Leasing director at Westgate Oxford Alliance Naomi Howard said: “We are thrilled so many great brands are already committed to Westgate Oxford and that we are delivering such an impressive premium line-up.

"With less than 18 months to go, we’ve secured more pre-lets at this stage in development than any other major UK shopping centre so far this decade.

“This demand is testament to Westgate’s unique offering – a large, affluent catchment and an as yet unfulfilled retail potential set in the heart of a world-class city.

“We’re excited to welcome many more brands as we near completion in October 2017.”

The scheme to re-vamp the Westgate Centre is in its main construction phase and is expected to create 1,000 jobs, with a flagship John Lewis department store.

Work started in February to extend the centre, which will cover 800,000sq ft and include more than 100 new stores, 25 restaurants and cafes, a boutique cinema, rooftop terrace and new public space.

Other brands announced yesterday included Blackwell’s, PINK – Victoria’s Secret, Jo Malone, Russell & Bromley, Charles Tyrwhitt, EE, Ernest Jones, Pret and Office.

Businesses already signed up include H&M, Michael Kors, River Island, Superdry, Primark, Next, Schuh, Goldsmiths and New Look, with boutique cinema chain Curzon Cinemas and restaurant Sticks’n’Sushi also confirmed.

The county council has been asking the public for their thoughts on plans to make the pedestrianisation of Queen Street permanent, and the consultation concluded yesterday.

The document includes a proposal for a bus turning circle in Worcester Street.

It said: “The pedestrianisation of Queen Street is part of the county council’s Local Transport Plan and Oxford City Council’s development plan for the West End, the West End Area Action Plan.

“It is an important element of wider improvements to the public realm in the city centre, such as the recent transformation of Frideswide Square.

“It is proposed that the changes required to pedestrianise Queen Street are made by the time the new Westgate centre opens in autumn 2017.”