London's biggest shopping centre is set to open on schedule next month in the teeth of a fierce retail slowdown, with its confident Australian developer - and more nervous international retailers - insisting it can be a success.

The grand project at White City in west London has defied the signs of a downturn to sign up Marks and Spencer, Debenhams, House of Fraser and Next as anchor tenants among a roster of 265 retailers. With the complex now 98 per cent let, there will be few gaps when it opens on October 30.