Bluewater took three years to build and cost �300m

The firm behind two giant shopping centres wants to buy a major shareholding in Kent's Bluewater shopping centre.

Liberty International, which already owns the Lakeside shopping centre in Thurrock and the MetroCentre in Newcastle, said it was interested in buying a 30% share in the complex.

Bluewater's current owner, Australian firm Lend Lease, had said at the beginning of June that it was considering selling the share.

Liberty's chief executive David Fischel said the group would be interested in buying the stake if it came up for sale.

Disused quarry

Mr Fischel said: "It would be an extremely good fit with our other retail and shopping centre assets.

"It is one of the top 25 retail centres in the UK.

"I don't think it is going to come up for sale just yet, but Lend Lease has indicated it could come on to the market at some point.

"When it does we'll look at it as we would any other potential acquisition."

Bluewater was built in 1999 and when it opened it claimed to be the largest shopping and retail centre in Europe.

Built in a disused quarry it contains three malls, which offer more than 320 stores and nearly 40 bars and restaurants.

It stretches across more than 240 acres with 13,000 car parking spaces and took �300m and three years to build.