TWO big names, Jack Wills and Flying Tiger, have signed up for the £85 million extension to the Eastbourne Arndale Centre.

Both retailers will take a unit in the 170,000 sq ft extension that is being funded by Arndale Centre owners Legal and General.

The announcement comes as the first units have been handed over to H&M and Next and are now being fitted out for opening in the autumn when the centre will be rebranded The Beacon.

Aspirational British fashion brand Jack Wills, whose clothing ranges from contemporary casual to more formal wear, has been a huge success story since opening its first store in Devon in 1999.

Danish-based Flying Tiger features fun and creative accessories ranging from toys to homeware and brands itself a store for “adventurers and dreamers”.

Andrew Rice, fund manager at Legal and General, said: “We are delighted to announce the signings of Jack Wills and Flying Tiger.

“These dynamic brands are exactly the kind of retailer we want to see in Eastbourne and will be a fantastic addition to the centre.

“And it is great that our first two units have been handed over to H&M and Next and are now being fitted out.

“Anyone living in, or visiting the town, can’t fail to see the speed at which work is now progressing with changes every day.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their patience as building work continues.”

Neil Beaman, head of store development for Jack Wills, said: “We’re very excited about coming to Eastbourne and the Beacon is the perfect location for our store.

“We’ll be in good company alongside other high-quality brands so our customers will have a fabulous shopping experience.”

Ricardo Nanulaitta, head of property for Flying Tiger, said: “The Beacon is the ideal place for our new store and we are sure that shoppers are going to love it. Eastbourne and Flying Tiger are a match made in heaven and we can’t wait to come to the Sunshine Coast.”

Eastbourne Borough Council leader Councillor David Tutt said: “It has been great to watch the progress of the new building and excellent news to learn about the high-quality retailers who have signed up to be there.

“We are now just a few months away from the opening of the new centre which will make a major difference to our local economy.”

Once completed, the extension will bring an additional 22 retail units to Eastbourne plus an eight-screen cinema and restaurants.

Neil Crawford, head of retail and leisure development for Legal and General Property, said: “Work is progressing well. The change is really significant now.”