A cinema, bigger shops, new restaurants and the return of the sports centre could all be part of an expanded Dolphin Shopping Centre in Poole.

The new owner Wereldhave, which bought the mall this week for £85million, including costs, has laid out its vision for its future - which it hopes to bring about over the next five years.

Andrew Turton, UK managing director of the Dutch based property investment company, outlined the aim to create a regional shopping centre to rival anything Poole's neighbours have to offer.

"There are a number of ideas on the table," he told the Daily Echo.

"We'd definitely like to bring in larger shop units - so we could talk to M&S about extending their facility, it could be a new retailer like a department store, it could be improving the food offer within the centre.

"Hopefully we can take it to being a more regional shopping facility as opposed to a town shopping facility - something that might bring people in from Bournemouth, Ringwood and other areas."

He added: "We'd also like to integrate into the town more. There's a bit of separation between the High Street and the centre and we'd like to bring that together more."

To achieve that Wereldhave might look at bringing the entrance to the managed centre down as far as the railway line - although that area would not necessarily be undercover.

There have long been plans in the pipeline to expand the centre towards Seldown Bridge as part of a revitalisation of the area - but progress stalled under previous owner Grosvenor.

Mr Turton said he was keen to work with the council, which owns the land, to move things forward.

"I really do think it would be nice to have something built and trading within five years - that would be very positive for the town," he added.

"Wereldhave are very acquisitive in the UK market. We have £500million to spend on UK shopping centres so we have substantial funds to give.

"In terms of an allocation for Poole - there isn't one. We will spend what it takes to create what we think is right."

He said the aim was to move towards a centre where shoppers can pretty much "do everything".

"From getting a key cut, to going to the cinema, getting a meal, or shopping in M&S or Primark," he added. "And you can get the bus there, or the train, or you can drive."

And there is also the promise of the long-empty sports centre being brought back to life.

Mr Turton said: "I believe a proposal is on the table for a sports operator to go back in there. We are quite keen to create a community facility which provides shopping facilities but extends into the evening, whether it be the cinema, for sports facilities, or for food."

While previous plans have proposed doubling the size of the centre, Wereldhave are not looking at such a big extension.

"I don't think any plans for any shopping centre that were suggested before the recession are now applicable," added Mr Turton. "Everything's has got to be looked at again. It won't double in size - it will probably be up to half again - something in the region of 250,000 sq ft."