Artist impression of the new store and restaurants at Capitol Centre

John Lewis are understood to be close to confirming a move to Preston.

The department store has been linked with the Capitol Centre for a new store, if Vue cinema relocates into the city centre.

Fishergate Shopping Centre is due to be the new home for the cinema, if its owners plans are successful.

And sources close to the scheme say John Lewis is to anchor the redevelopment of the Walton-le-Dale retail park – which already has a Waitrose in operation.

Royal London, who own the Capitol Centre, tabled plans in December 2014 to demolish the cinema and build a unit for ‘non-food retail’.

They said at the time: “The proposed retail store has been designed to provide a high quality, modern shopping environment for the community. The store will be contemporary, featuring high quality glazing and cladding to give a clean, crisp look to the building.”

A source close to the schemes said: “Major UK cinema operator Vue is closing its venue at the Capitol Centre in Walton-le-Dale to make way for a non-food retail store, potentially John Lewis.”

John Lewis have long been linked with opening in Preston – as they were due to be at the heart of the failed Tithebarn redevelopment.

A spokeswoman for the department store said: “John Lewis is often linked to new retail led developments, however, we don’t comment on market speculation.”