The Fort in the East End is the latest retail development to announce a makeover, promising more top stores and more parking.

Bosses are also considering using giant wind turbines to generate renewable energy to power the extension.

The ambitious plans, lodged with the city council today, are aimed at further regenerating Glasgow's East End and creating lasting employment.

The centre in Easterhouse already offers a range of shopping across 400,000sq ft of floor space. The expansion will see the horse shoe-shaped park create an extra 175,000sq ft.

It is home to a number of High Street shops - such as Top Shop, Next and Asda Living - with the outdoor shopping park set-up, rather than inside shopping mall, giving traders the opportunity to operate larger stores than those found in some town centres.

Manager Phil Goodman said today: "If all goes to plan, we will open phase 2 in the second half of 2009 with a number of new and exciting stores."

Marks & Spencer was the first to sign up to the extension.

They are to open their first East End store and it will include the chain's popular food hall.

The Fort has been a huge success since its launch in October, 2004, attracting 12million shoppers a year.

Now more retail giants want to cash in.

At least another 10 retailers are expected to follow M&S. Just how many sign up will depend on how much floor space potential traders want.

Who the other retailers will be is not clear, but it's known a number of household names are locked in ongoing negotiations.

Mr Goodman said: "There continues to be considerable interest in retail space at Glasgow Fort whenever it becomes available and we expect this to continue for phase two.

"When we have specific details we will let shoppers know as soon as we can. What we can say is the new stores will complement our existing mix.

"They will most likely play to our strengths as a fashion hub and will certainly be attractive to shoppers.

"Phase one opened with 90- per cent of the units pre-let and is now fully occupied. This gives us the opportunity to bring in greater variety and choice and we are confident phase two will have even greater appeal to retailers and shoppers.

"Our mix of showcase stores, which allow the retailers to present their goods in a relaxed environment, has worked extremely well."

The Fort's plan to go green follows a report in yesterday's Evening Times about M&S at the new Silverburn complex in Pollok creating its first eco-friendly store, using energy generated from wind power and rainwater to flush toilets.

The Fort was built after council land was sold to a private developer. The aim was to create jobs for local people.

It has so far generated 1500 jobs - 900 of them filled by workers who live locally.

And with the expansion will come more jobs joy. It will generate 100 construction jobs and at least another 400 store positions - again most of them to be filled by locals.

The Fort has also benefited the wider community. It's brought improved transport facilities for Easterhouse such as a linked network of foot and cycle paths and better bus services.

Glasgow Fort has also been discussed in the corridors of power.

A report by the Scottish Government called People and Place: Regeneration Policy in Scotland says it's an ideal template for the public and private sectors to work together.

Mr Goodman has been in charge of the retail hub since the first day and is proud of what's become his second home.

He said: "Glasgow Fort has proved to be an overwhelming success since it opened three years ago, both in terms of its retail offering and as a catalyst for regeneration.

"We are extremely excited about our expansion plans and it was important that any proposal we developed was not only sympathetic and appropriate in design and offering but would also add to local regeneration activity."