THREE leading high street stores are being lined up to come to Prestwich in a bid to breathe new life into its main shopping centre.

Plans have been submitted to Bury Council for a small development of shops on a prime site on the corner of Bury New Road and Fairfax Road, currently occupied by Grimshaws Vauxhall dealership.

The move could secure the future of neighbouring shops and businesses which feared slumping into decline after Sainsbury's pulled out of the Longfield Centre.

The applicants, Derbyshire-based Peveril Securities Ltd, have presented plans for three modern retail units and 71-car parking spaces for the near-20,000 square foot site.

Planning agents Drivers Jones, based in Manchester, said the development would comprise one large unit and two smaller ones.

Spokeswoman Elizabeth Grigg said: "We do not know who will occupy the shops but the developers are in negotiations with high street retailers. Rather than being a mini retail development the proposed site will be like an extension to the town centre." Development manager for Peveril, Mr Jonathan Nuttall, said the company was in "advanced stages" of talks with three well-known high street occupiers. He added: "The site is in a prime position to link up the town centre with Tesco and we hope this will bridge the gap between the two." The news comes just one month after nearby Sainsbury's closed its doors for the last time and Sketchleys the cleaners, which was situated next door, followed suit, potentially jeopardising the viability of the Longfield Centre.

If successful, the application for the new development would mean demolition for long-established Grimshaws, although proprietor Mr Alan Grimshaw was remaining tight-lipped about his plans.

He refused to confirm whether his Vauxhall dealership would be relocating and said the site was not actively being marketed, although he was "looking at all the options available".

Mr Grimshaw added: "The motor trade is moving at 100mph and we will be doing our best to keep ahead of the game."

An application by Grimshaws to build a Masterfit vehicle servicing unit close to Junction 17 of the M62 motorway was refused by Bury planners in April. The plan was to build behind Stuart Frazer Kitchens on land off Willow Road but "highway reasons" prompted the decision to refuse.

Mr Grimshaw said: "We will always want to maintain a presence in Prestwich."