PLANS are being drawn up to demolish and rebuild Durham's bus station just two years after it underwent a £500,000 makeover.

Redeveloping the station in North Road to create a "high-quality public transport gateway to the city centre for bus users" is one of the aims of the 2020 Vision masterplan for the city centre.

Durham County Council, which bought the Seventies-built terminal from bus company Arriva, has now acquired the four shops and the offices on its North Road frontage with £3.2m from regional development agency One North-East.

The station revamp could take place as well as proposals for North Road, which include creating an "urban square", called North Place, at its junction with Castle Chare.

New development opposite the bus station is envisaged as well as tree planting. Redevelopment could also take place elsewhere in North Road, which has long been considered a problem area.

The vision document states: "The frontage to North Road should be redeveloped to create a glazed ground-floor facade to the bus station that is transparent to North Road and of sufficient height to be light open and airy."

Before the county council improved the bus station, it was shabby and unwelcoming.

As a result, the concourse was enclosed with glazed panels and automatic doors were installed, along with heating, brighter lighting and new seating and toilets and security cameras.

A One NorthEast spokeswoman said a development brief was being drawn up that encompassed shops, offices, residential and leisure uses and potentially a budget hotel.

One NorthEast director of regeneration, John Holmes, who is chairman of the Durham City Vision Steering Board, said: "Durham had weaknesses with a limited range of retail, leisure and cultural, as well as poor-quality public spaces and limited employment opportunities - all areas which we aim to put right."

Durham City Council's deputy leader Carol Woods said: "This redevelopment is long overdue and we are delighted that One NorthEast has seen this acquisition as a priority.

"It will make a big difference to the people who live and work in the city and of course is a huge step forward in achieving the Vision for Durham. This is an important start."