THE glass roof at the new-look Churchill Square shopping centre is nearing completion.

Workmen at the site are busy putting the finishing touches to the 60ft glass dome, which will form the highest point of the development. It will cast natural light on to a hallway where the three shopping malls come together. The glass atrium is expected to be complete in four to six weeks and will form the centrepiece of the whole development. Derek Maddison, manager at Churchill Square, said: "It will be a very impressive point of the site and a focal point for shoppers. "It is where all three of the malls come together. The light that shines out will be pointed through three floors. "There will be a lift running up from the car park as well. Workmen are doing the cladding at the moment." Work on the dome started eight weeks ago and the shopping centre itself is due to open in September. It will cover 470,000 sq ft on two floors. The largest retail space will be taken by Debenhams. Other big High Street names planning to move in include Virgin Megastore, Next, Principles, Dorothy Perkins, Burton, Disney, Superdrug, Body Shop and Hennes. McDonalds will be one of five in the catering hall, which architects were able to add at the last minute after the former BT office on top of the centre was pulled down. Architects have retained 20 per cent of Churchill Square's former shopping centre, which was built in the Sixties. And more than £2 million has been spent every week building the centre, which will boast a staggering 1,800 spaces in a three-storey car park.

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