A PLAN to build a multi-million pound shopping complex in a North-East town centre was back on track last night - with four developers bidding to win the contract.

The future of the £90m Commercial Street/Queen Street scheme in Darlington was thrown into doubt in September when the previous developer pulled out.

But council chiefs revealed yesterday that there had been an "incredible amount of interest" in developing the project from other companies.

The contenders fighting for the contract - Centros Miller, Discovery Properties, Leh-man Brothers WD and Wilson Bowden Developments - have been whittled down from a list of 15 companies.

They have two months to deliver detailed proposals for the site. Council bosses will make a decision on which will build the centre at the end of February.

A Darlington Borough Council spokesman said: "The council is in the middle of a two-stage process of choosing a new developer for Commercial Street.

"Fifteen developers made submissions and four developers have been short-listed to proceed to the second stage.

"It is very exciting and brilliant news for the town. If we got 15 down to four, it shows there is an incredible amount of interest in Darlington."

The original developer, St Martin's Property Group, owner of the Queen Street shopping arcade, put its six-acre site in the town centre up for sale in September, 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, thereby disrupting a strategy to transform the town centre. The authority decided to market its own neighbouring land for sale to ensure the complex was built.

The council spokesman said the developers would be expected to incorporate the Queen Street arcade into their proposals.

Council leader John Williams said: "We now have four top-quality developers putting together plans for the Commercial Street project, which shows there is a high level of confidence in Darlington town centre."

Darlington MP Alan Milburn said he was delighted at the level of interest in the scheme.

"I have never doubted for one moment that this development could attract companies of a high calibre," he said.

"This is good news for the jobs market and will help reaffirm the town as a major retail centre in the region."