A MAJOR high street department store says it remains committed to coming to Newport.

The news from Debenhams comes as Newport council said it hopes its decision to select a preferred bidder for the city centre's redevelopment will encourage Marks and Spencer to reconsider its decision to leave the shopping district.

On Wednesday the council announced it would begin negotiations with developer Queensberry to finalise an agreement to build the shopping centre.

A spokeswoman for Debenhams, which was earmarked to be the anchor store in the original ill-fated scheme for Friars Walk, confirmed to the Argus the firm is still committed to coming to Newport.

She said conversations are continuing on where that store may be located in the city.

In a statement the council said it would welcome the firm as a “key store” for the scheme and that it hoped news of the preferred developer would cause Marks and Spencer to reconsider its decision to move out of town next year.

“Marks and Spencer is moving out of the city centre because the lease on the current property has ended and they are looking for different-sized units,” a spokeswoman said.

“Friars Walk will offer the modern facilities now demanded by retailers.”

The spokeswoman added that the council neither wants nor expects Friars Walk, which will offer 370,000 square feet of retail space, an anchor store, a cinema and restaurants, to compete with St David’s in Cardiff.

She added that the council anticipates a “similar level” of interest from retailers as for the old Friars Walk plan, when the majority of units were pre-let.

However a spokeswoman for M&S yesterday said “nothing has changed” and that the company was still planning to move out-of-town.

Laura Buchanan-Smith, president of the Newport Chamber of Trade, said her organisation was very happy with the news of a preferred bidder.

“Friars Walk is essential for the future of the city centre,” she said. “If we don’t get it it will leave the city centre back down the pan.”