This is the view of Wrexham Council's, chief economic development officer, Steven Bayley, who believes the novelty value of the retail park, complete with a bowling alley, multiplex cinema and restaurants, will stand it in good stead, despite the credit crunch.

Steve Bayley remains resolute that the economic slump will not affect the success of Eagles Meadow, insisting it could not be opening at a better time.

However, according to Mr Bayley, the gloomy economic forecast means no new retail developments would be built in other towns for a number of years, leaving Eagles Meadow in a unique position.

"We've timed it perfectly, there's not a single development on the way and very little development coming over the horizon elsewhere," he said.

"It (the economic downturn) will happen UK-wide but the advantage here is the novelty factor. We are in a healthier position now than we would have been without Eagles Meadow."

Anchor tenant Debenhams and Marks and Spencer will be the first stores to open their doors to customers on October 30, followed by businesses from Arcadia group stores such as River Island, Dorothy Perkins, Topshop and Burtons, in mid-November, and an eight-screen Odeon cinema is due to open next Easter.

Mr Bayley said: "It will be ready in terms of Debenhams and Marks and Spencer but there will be work to do. We are also carrying out some environmental work."

He was keen to emphasise the development was part of the town centre rather than a separate entity.

"It keeps getting referred to as a centre, which is unhelpful – a centre would be more akin to something like Plas Coch (retail park)," he said.

"It's an extension of our existing town centre and the evidence is the design of it which is specifically designed to integrate with the town centre."

A total of 10 businesses will relocate from existing premises in the town to Eagles Meadow, which Mr Bayley said was unavoidable, but added that they will be going from a total of 61,000 sq ft to 137,000 sq ft.

"There will be an impact, we cannot get away from that but we've got to recognise we are the principle shopping centre in North Wales. And it is not just about retail, it is leisure as well.

"When we first got under way in 2002 leisure was the lead, retail was secondary. It will increase the range of family-oriented activity."

A report by Mr Bayley on the impact the development will have on the town will go before the county council's executive board on Tuesday.

In the report Mr Bayley admits the prime area for fashion will move to the development from Hope Street, with landlords and developers on Hope Street likely to seek planning permission for change of use for their premises as the retail landscape changes.

He said: "This has already happened in the case of 26 Hope Street (formerly occupied by Monsoon) where (landlord) Town Centre Securities successfully secured planning permission for a change of use from A1 retail to A2 financial and professional services.

"It is important to understand that regardless of any 'masterplan' devised by the council for the regeneration of the town centre, private sector demand will dictate the long term use of buildings.

"No matter how desirable it may be to resist change, if the market has no requirement for a particular building as a retail shop, it will remain vacant until another productive use is found for it."

Mr Bayley also dismissed concerns that the development was a long walk for people arriving at Wrexham bus station.

He said: "To keep distance in perspective, on foot, the new Debenhams store is 650m from the bus station, less than the distance from Chester Bus Station to Woolworth's in Chester."

Wrexham's chief executive Isobel Garner is also backing Eagles Meadow to be a huge success.

She said: "There's a storm out there but Wrexham is better able to weather the storm."

Will you be going to Eagles Meadow when it opens?

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