TRENDY clothing chain Zara will be the first shop to open in a new shopping centre in York, the Evening Press can reveal.

The Spanish clothing chain is the only shop that is already fitting out its premises in the new Spurriergate development in the city centre.

Two giant escalators that will run through the centre of the shop are to be installed next week.

The 1950s Spurriergate building, which formerly stood at the corner of Spurriergate and High Ousegate, has been knocked down to make way for a the centre, which will house five shops and 13 flats.

Spurriergate is due to be closed between High Ousegate and Market Street from 11.45pm to 6am from Sunday to Tuesday while work to install the escalators is carried out. A crane is also being used in the building works.

Barriers and signs will be put up, with traffic redirected along nearby routes.

But all the other shops in the new retail and apartment block are now not likely to appear until well into next year.

Jonathan Newns, a senior associate at agents King Sturge, said he expected the other shops in the development - H&M, Game, Phones 4 U and William Hill - to start fitting out their premises in February or March next year, and are expected to open several weeks later.

Phones 4 U will take up two retail units, while Zara will occupy the space next to NatWest bank.

All the shops will be glass fronted on the ground floor and on part of the first floor. "It will be a large space that York hasn't really got," said Mr Newns.

Zara's 20,000 square feet of retail space takes up three floors in the building and will sell ranges for women, men and children.

The fashion chain has already signed up managers after advertising for the top positions last month, and is now recruiting sales assistants and cashiers.

A spokeswoman for the store confirmed it was still planning to open in December, before Christmas - months before it originally planned to open, in March.

Updated: 10:30 Friday, October 14, 2005