Big shops are to move into Kenilworth as part of efforts to tempt shoppers back to the town.

New owners of Talisman Square have been granted planning permission to build a large store and two other big developments are planned in Abbey End.

Town centre manager Joe Baconnet said there has been a lot of interest in the sites from some big firms.

He said:

"A town the size of Kenilworth is never going to get something like BHS or Next, but it is likely that there is going to be a food retailer there.

"There is also a lot of interest from restaurants because Kenilworth has a good reputation for eating out."

Mr Baconnet added that the owners of Talisman Square, Jalna, who bought the site two months ago, had a great deal of flexibility when deciding their options.

He said a number of empty shops could be knocked together to make a larger unit if the demand was there as Warwick District Council had already given planning permission for such a move.

Mr Baconnet said the changes were essential as a way of allowing the town to compete against rivals such as Coventry and Solihull.

But the prospects for the town were good, he insisted.

He said:

"We’ve got an affluent catchment area with a population that largely works away from the town and shops there at the weekend.

"I think the work will make a big difference in attracting more people.

"A lot of people from the area have been coming in for the Farmers’ Markets, and this should become a permanent fixture, while the other developments will also help."