Plans to turn Freeport into one of the top retail outlet centres in the UK are set to be unveiled in 2018.

Owners of the shopping centre Landsec told the Times they are working on ways to improve the experience for customers at the Charter Way, Braintree, site.

According to the real estate investment company, discussions have already taken place with a number of “quality” retailers about moving to the centre, with more details set to follow later in the year.

The retail giant said investment has already been made in the signage and the exterior of buildings.

A spokesman for Landsec said: “We are exploring how we can improve the environment in which our guests shop – including areas such as the sense of arrival, the streetscapes and the appearance of the shops.

“We have held discussions with a number of quality retailers about taking space in the centre following on from the arrival of Reiss back in December. These have been positive with many agreeing the centre will improve greatly with our investment.

“We are also looking at reinforcing the message of outlet shopping which offers the chance to buy great products from quality brands with fantastic discounts.”

The latest brands to move in to the centre were Reiss, Suit Direct and Calendar Club, which opened in November.

According to the investment company’s website, “constant evolution” of the brands on offer is an idea being explored as a possibility for Braintree’s shopping centre.

Landsec completed the purchase of Freeport Braintree in May last year.

The business paid an estimated £340 million to buy it in a deal which also included two other similar outlet centres in Somerset and West Yorkshire.

The move made Landsec the biggest owner-manager of outlet centres in the UK, but bosses said there is set to be significant investment made in the centre in the coming year.

The spokesman added: “The team on site officially moved across to join Landsec in September. Since then we have been working up our plans to evolve Freeport into one of the best outlet shopping experiences in the UK.

“We hope to be able to share more information on all of this as we make more progress later in the year with the input from our architects, landscape designers and our discussions with more retail brands.”

Previous owners Realm revealed plans in September 2016 for a £13 million expansion at the centre, which was set to add 40 per cent more floor space.

The move would have created between 50 and 100 new jobs, however the plans did not get off the ground before the new owners took over.

Freeport currently has 85 retailers occupying 200,000sq ft of floor space. The site is next to Braintree Retail Park in Charter Way, Braintree.