I thought the restaurant quarter was down by the Litten Tree?
I'm pretty sure there was a proposal for that a few years back, but it fell flat on its face, that area is not 'right'.
This seems like a better plan as it is near the Cathedral & might attract a more well heeled crowd, largely tourist visits in day, though the bistro at the back of the Lanes was a flop & has been closed for years. * PS Walked past it today & The Establishment in the old County Hall has taken over the patio at the rear of the Lanes .. looked reasonably busy.
Also meshes well with Drapers hall redevelopment & a few other schemes that have taken off round there, but I think the restaurants would need to have their main entrance from the rear, where that bistro is.
Otherwise that shopping centre is a dead duck, it is a pity the proposal wasn't to knock it down & build something smaller!
I'm not sure how the Wilko shop fits into this plan, it clearly does a decent turnover though.. but it doesn't really 'fit' next to nice restaurants, so maybe the idea is to separate the retail/commercial & restaurant areas.