With one year to go until opening,three new signings have been announced for Newport city centre's Friars Walk scheme by developers Queensberry Real Estate.

They are fashion retailer H&M, which moved out of the city centre to Newport Retail Park at Spytty, food chain Las Iguana, and French-style restaurant chain Le Bistrot Pierre.

And the next major milestone of the development, the topping out ceremony, is due to take place early next month.

H&M will open a new 20,000 sq ft store featuring its full line clothing and accessories range. It is understood the chain will be keeping its store at Spytty.

Le Bistrot Pierre is privately owned and offers authentic, high-quality but reasonably priced French food in a relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere. Established in 1994, LBP has 13 bistrots all around the UK from Harrogate to Cardiff.

Rob Beacham, the proprietor of Le Bistrot Pierre, said he can't wait to move the city and get the restaurant open.

Paul Sargent, of Queensberry Real Estate, said: "Le Pierre Bistrot can't wait to move into Newport. They are particularly pleased that the site is close to the Riverfront Theatre and Rodney Parade."

Las Iguanas offers authentic Latin South American cuisine. It started with a small restaurant in a quiet street in Bristol in 1991 and became something of a local institution.

Mr Sargent said: "All the remaining units are under off in the restaurant quarter and now anyone interested in taking a unit is having to queue."

The signings mean the 390,000 sq ft retail and leisure scheme is now in excess of 60 per cent pre let. Other retailers include Debenhams, Next, Topshop and New Look. The scheme will also be home to restaurants including Nandos, Frankie & Benny’s, GBK and Prezzo alongside an eight-screen Cineworld multiplex cinema.

Mr Sargent said construction is on target for the first shops to open in a year's time and it is expected that the first fit outs will start early next year.

Queensberry Real Estate has also recently become the asset manager of the nearby Kingsway Centre.

Mr Sargent said: "We've been there for a month now and are looking at creating a synergy between the two centres. We are setting out a marketing plan for the Kingsway centre, which has a different retail offering to Friars Walk. Sainsburys and Pure Gym are already on site fitting out the units they have taken."

Friars Walk will include 35 retail units, 10 restaurants, 350 parking spaces and a new bus station and interchange.

On completion the scheme will provide an estimated 1,200 jobs worth around £15m in salaries a year to the local economy. This is in addition to the jobs created during the construction phase and the potential for local companies to be involved in the supply chain of the centre.