A COUNCIL leader says he is unconcerned by the apparent slippage in the target opening date for a multi-million pound cinema currently under development.

Terrace Hill is building the Feethams Leisure development in Darlington town centre, which includes a nine-screen cinema, hotel, restaurants and bars.

When work started at the former bus station site, earlier in the year, Terrace Hill said the £30m development could be up and running as early as Christmas 2015.

According to a report on BBC Tees, the development, is now set to open in about Easter 2016.

Bill Dixon, leader of Darlington Borough Council, which sold the site to the developer, said the opening date was a matter for Terrace Hill.

He said: "It's Terrace Hill's timetable, that is what they are aiming for.

"It is down to the builder how quickly they wish to progress.

"We had eight or nine applications for a multi-screen cinema, this is the first one that is actually getting built."

Decontamination work is ongoing at the site, with building set to start once the clear-up phase is completed.

Cllr Dixon added: "It is up to Terrace Hill, as a professional developer, how they develop the project and they set the target date for the opening.

"It could come forward, it depends what kind of winter we have."