Shops coming to the new £100million Heart development in Walton have finally been named.

After months of contract negotiations, the controversial shopping centre has announced it will contain two of the UK's biggest clothing stores.

Next and New Look have both finally confirmed they will be opening shops in the development on New Zealand Avenue. The other New Look store in Walton will close when the new one opens.

The Next store will be on two levels within a space roughly the size of six tennis courts. New Look have taken a 12,000 square foot unit.

In September last year, the popular Beales department store announced it would close to make way for the arrival of The Heart.

O&H, the developers of the shopping and residential complex, said there was an "imminent signing of a well known department store" to replace Beales within the next few weeks.

A spokeswoman for The Heart said there will be a brand new state-of-the-art local library and a health and fitness centre.

She said: "O&H is well into negotiations with popular clothing and accessories retailers and a large book store for all ages, and we will be announcing these shortly."

The Heart will have 52 new shops in addition to 10 restaurants and cafes. And O&H is in discussion with more than 70 well known fashion brands, kitchen and home-ware shops, independent shops, local independent operators and restaurant owners.

These will include high street chains, as well as stores for music and computer games, flowers and gifts, and baby and children's wear.

There will also be independent shops, which trade across the country, and one-off boutiques looking to open a second shop within the Surrey area.

The Heart will have 279 one- to three-bedroom apartments with underground parking. 17 of these, centred around a private internal courtyard garden, have already been sold.

O&H said it will make regular announcements on which stores will be opening at The Heart from now on.

benl@london.newsquest.co.uk