A RIVAL developer has poured scorn on the collapse of plans to bring a multi-screen cinema to Darlington.

Earlier this week, developers Terrace Hill revealed it had dropped plans to build the multi-million pound complex with cafs and tree-lined boulevard on land opposite the bus station at Feethams.

Instead it has applied to build four floors of office space with 46 car park spaces on land where the old Stanley Robinson showroom was devastated by fire in January 2000.

But on Wednesday, rival developer Simons Estate, which had original planning permission to develop the bus station site into a multiplex cinema over two years ago, said it was not surprised by the news.

Unable to secure a deal with the owners of property over the road, it lost out when Terrace Hill stepped in and managed to buy up the units.

From then on the two companies were unable to work together and Terrace Hill, which took over the plans for the cinema complex, was granted outline planning permission last year by Darlington Borough Council.

Since then the site has remained empty and questions raised over the validity of the scheme.

Now the company has claimed there was not enough interest from cinema operators in the site or the town and has withdrawn the plan.

But on Wednesday a spokesman for Simons Estates told the D&S Times if it had been given the opportunity the complex would have been built.

"The time to build this was two years ago. Now the market has changed and multiplex cinemas are not in demand.

"Offices are always a good fall back position for a developer but not necessarily what a town might need.

"It is a shame for Darlington that it will not get this scheme."

However, the company hinted that all may not be lost.

"We are always interested in looking for opportunities and we spent a great deal of time and money in Darlington.

"The legacy of that is still with us. We have not ruled out going back to the council and starting up talks about the Feethams site."

Coun David Lyonette, cabinet lead for regeneration and planning, said: "The council wanted the whole of the Feethams site and the other side of the road to be part of a large development.

"We were upset when the site became split and would have preferred the cinema complex to have gone on the other side.

"Now it's not even going ahead. I think it's a great shame.

"We hope another developer may look favourably on the Feethams site and we are not ruling out a multiplex cinema, bowling alley or ice rink for the town."

A spokesman for Terrace Hill added that if permission was granted for the offices it would be first new development of its kind in Darlington for many years.