The owners of Witney's main shopping centre are planning a revamp to increase the number of stores.

A two-storey extension is to be built after partial demolition of the Cargo shop in the Woolgate Centre.

French Square, outside the Waitrose supermarket, is also to be realigned under plans submitted by owners, the Universities Superannuation Scheme Ltd, and approved by West Oxfordshire District Council's lowlands planning sub-committee. However, the clock tower, imitating the town's landmark Buttercross, is to be retained.

The changes will result in two new shops, while the facilities for cyclists are to be improved by doubling the number of racks from 36 to 72.

The scheme has been amended since it was drawn up in September last year, and was re-submitted in the wake of detailed development plans for a new shopping centre in the town, at Marriotts Close, which is due to open in the spring of 2009.

But one resident, David Bond, of Oxlease, has questioned whether the town needs more shops - arguing for a freeze until Marriotts Close is completed. He added: "The Cogges Link or West Link roads should be built before more development is allowed."

District council planning officer Phil Shaw has warned that the phasing of development could be "critical". He added: "Potentially the town could be faced with the redevelopment of Marriotts Close, this application and the (redevelopment of) the College all at the same time, along with further pressure on parking.

"This could have an adverse effect on the trading environment of the town and is not a matter that officers would wish to encourage."

Instead of increasing the amount of parking, the council says the changes will lead to a small loss of spaces.