HOPES are high that a long-awaited shopping centre redevelopment will begin soon.

Belfast company Ravenhill Estates bought the Newgate Shopping Centre, in Bishop Auckland, in June last year for £13m from the Oakgate Group.

The firm promised to push ahead with the previous owners' plans for more shops, bars and a multiplex cinema.

Oakgate, based in Wetherby, had owned the centre since 2003 and had submitted applications to Wear Valley District Council and appointed architects before selling up.

However, more than a year after Ravenhill Estates took over, there has been no "noticeable activity".

At a Bishop Auckland Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Councillor June Lee asked for an update from Bob Hope, director of regeneration at Wear Valley District Council.

He said the authority had met with the company in June but had been unable to arrange another meeting.

He said: "They were going to go away and re-evaluate the proposals. We have been trying to set up a meeting for the past month-and-a-half and not really got anywhere.

"But our understanding is that they are working behind the scenes.

"The indication that we've got is that its fairly imminent that they're going to come forward."

Steve Henderson, a director at Savills, agents for Ravenhill Estates, said: "Ravenhill Estates has confirmed that it is actively engaged in ongoing discussions with Wear Valley Council regarding the feasibility of an extension to the Newgate Centre."