OWNERS of a Hampshire shopping centre have promised they will “breathe new life” into it with an upgrade.

Planning permission has just been granted for a “continental-style” Costa Coffee in the main plaza of Locks Heath Shopping Centre.

The outdoor café proposals caused controversy among some traders and residents, who said it would ruin the ambience of the square, which contains the town’s clock tower, and that there were already other cafés nearby.

But planners at Fareham Borough Council have given the go-ahead to the coffee shop, paving the way for shopping centre owners NewRiver Retail to complete the 1,500 sq ft, glass-fronted building by the spring.

It will create ten jobs for the town and will have space to seat up to 40 people inside and outside the café.

NewRiver Retail say it is just the start of a “major upgrade”, which will also include five new shops being built next to the Co-op supermarket.

The centre’s entrance will also be redesigned under the plans.

Hughes Ellard, which is acting as a letting agent for the centre owners, said it is currently looking for prospective tenants for the new shops, which have not yet been built.

Retail agency operations manager Tim Clark said: “This is the first step in a major upgrade for Locks Heath Shopping Centre by NewRiver Retail.

“Planning consent is in place for further retail space on the site and we’re in the process of securing pre-lets for that space. We’re working hard with the tenants trying to keep it fully occupied and, where possible, improve tenant mix to make it more vibrant.”