Laura Ashley's home furnishings, clothes and gift retailer and Carpet Right opened their doors to the public on Monday, joining the 240,000 sq ft Ikea store, Next and sports superstore Decathlon.

Sofa specialists CSL was due to open at the 160,000 sq ft park on Thursday. Comet and a new Next at Home store are due to open in October and other retailers will follow over the coming months include a 30,000 sq ft Bhs, and food outlets Subway, Starbucks and Frankie & Benny's.

The whole development, which includes the existing retailers, the new retail park and the neighbouring Giltbrook Industrial Park, occupies the equivalent of 10 football pitches.

Park manager Denis Copeland said: "Even though we're facing challenging times, we know that the park will prove to be an exciting shopping destination.

It enjoys an excellent location and facilities, flexible trading hours, and a line-up of tenants that will appeal to a wide range of shoppers including two 'firsts' in the area - stylish furniture store Barker & Stonehouse and market-leading nursery brand Mamas & Papas."

As well as creating up to 500 new jobs, the development has been designed and built to incorporate wind turbines, photo voltaic cells to power the lights, and solar collectors to provide hot water.

Other features include a 25,000-litre tank to collect and harness rainwater.

The park will also be on the route of the T1 Phoenix Flagship, a seven-day bus service which will link communities in the north of Broxtowe to Nottingham's tramline at Phoenix Park in Cinderhill.

The service, which is intended to relieve congestion on the A610, is partly funded by British Land, owner of Giltbrook Retail Park.

The official opening of Giltbrook Retail Park will coincide with the first T1 bus journeys in early October and a two-week Climate Change event.