MORE than £100m is set to be spent in a new Hampshire community over the next ten years creating a better shopping precinct.

That was the promise yesterday as the scheme was unveiled by bosses at Whiteley Village Outlet Shopping Centre.

The massive project will see much of the existing centre developed and extended to bring in dozens more shops, facilities and even homes.

Although no big name brands have yet been announced, those heading the development say an upgraded and extended Tesco store does form part of their plans.

Up to 200 extra homes will also be built around the centre, while other proposals include a 60-room hotel aimed more at business users, a new health and leisure centre and shops focussed more on what local residents need rather than simply factory outlets.

A new library could also be built on the 38-acre site, while the list of monthly markets, such as the popular Italian and farmers' markets could also be extended.

Andrew Rollings, retail director at Whiteley Village, admitted the developers had yet to talk to highways chiefs at Hampshire County Council about the road infrastructure surrounding the centre, but promised that it was one of their top priorities.

He also said community involvement in the proposals was equally important, and that significant amounts of public consultation would now take place to ask for resident's opinions on what they wanted before the final plans for the development were drawn up.

Those consultations could begin next month with a series of exhibition days in Whiteley.

Although the ultimate timetable for the development is over the next ten years, Mr Rollings said an initial outlined planning application would be with Winchester City Council by the end of this year and building work could start soon after.

Mr Rollings added: "Our vision is to provide Whiteley residents with their own shopping centre at the heart of the community where they can shop, meet and spend leisure time.'' The scheme was unveiled yesterday to district and parish council chiefs.

Winchester City Council leader Cllr George Beckett said he thought the scheme was forward thinking as it would cater for the likely increase in residents numbers in the area over the next 20 years, as outlined in the South East Plan.

However Fareham Borough Council Leader, Cllr Sean Woodward, said he had always argued that the current factory outlet centre was wrong for Whiteley, and hoped residents would now get a local shopping centre that fitted their needs, like that in nearby Locks Heath.