A MAJOR new shopping centre earmarked for Darlington town centre could be open in less than three years.

The scheme, which will transform Commercial Street car park into 12,000 square metres of retail floor space, will also include a large multi-storey car park.

Consultancy firm Colliers CRE have now been appointed by Darlington Borough Council to advise on the viability of the scheme put forward by St Martins property company, owners of Queen Street Shopping Centre.

Detailed plans are expected to be with the council in the spring and discussions with adjacent landowners are on going.

Nigel Cooper, planning and development director at Colliers CRE, told the D&S Times they were optimistic that the development would go ahead.

"We will advise the council on whether these proposals are appropriate for the town centre," he said. "The development will provide bigger shop units but the whole point is to complement what is in the town already rather than compete with it.

"We have a long way to go but, once agreed, it will take 12 months to build which means it could be about three years before it opens."

The centre will include an overhead car park designed to hold the same number of cars as Commercial Street car park. However, Colliers have confirmed they are looking to increase the number of spaces.