FOUR developers have submitted bids to win a contract to build a multimillion pound shopping complex.
The detailed plans for a shopping centre in Commercial Street, Darlington, will be considered by council bosses over the next six weeks, before going before the council's cabinet in April.
The contenders - Centros Miller, Discovery Properties, Lehman Brothers WD, and Wilson Bowden Developments - handed in their bids to Darlington Borough Council on Friday.
The developers will work with the council over the next six weeks so officers are clear of the finer details. The council will also need to consult bodies like English Heritage.
The future of the Commercial Street scheme was thrown into doubt last September when the original developer, St Martin's Property Group, owner of the Queen Street arcade, put its 6.42acre site up for sale, saying it wanted to concentrate on developments in London.
Council leaders feared the land could be sold to a company not interested in developing it for shopping, disrupting a long-term strategy to transform Darlington town centre.
The authority decided to market its own neighbouring land for sale to ensure the complex was built.
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