Versace, Moss Bros and Nike are coming to Braintree.

The designer wear, suit and sports giants are three big names signed up for the Freeport Leisure Factory Shopping Village which is on course to open at the beginning of November.

And with 90 per cent of the shop space already taken, there are only seven or eight units that are not reserved or being finalised by solicitors.

Iceberg and Designer Room have also been tempted to move in and chocoholics will be pleased to hear that there will be a Thorntons Cafe.

Brian Cutmore, chairman of Braintree Town Centre Strategy Group (BTCSG), said: "Things look very, very promising indeed. Freeport has said there is now 90 per cent occupancy and it looks like its confidence has been well placed."

Mr Cutmore added: "Freeport is still on track to hand over to tenants for shop fitting in September.

"The opening now suggested is November 1 and there will probably be an official opening two or three weeks after that."

It was also reported to members of BTCSG that the Tourist Information Centre (TIC), originally to be located in a glass conservatory near the entrance, will now open in a unit close to the thoroughfare of the railway approach.

Nigel Thorogood said this location was not as prominent as people would have hoped for and he called for a Braintree town map to be placed in a position obvious to motorists and people leaving the railway station.

Mr Cutmore said: "This would be on my wish list for my next meeting with Freeport. It is not obliged to do so, but it might like to make provision for a town map.

"I see it as one of many moves that would forge good links between the town centre and Freeport."

Charter Way, the new link road between the factory shopping village and the town centre, is due to open on July 26.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.