A CONSULTATION exercise on the long-awaited extension to Newton Aycliffe Town Centre is complete after months of intensive discussions.

Planning officials are now hoping an application for the development of the former Avenue School site could be considered by the council early next year.

A spokesman for Sedgefield Borough Council said: "It is recognised the people of Aycliffe want new town centre investment as soon as possible.

"It is also recognised this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and we want to ensure the development will be something to be proud of for many years to come.

"The final stages of consultation have been on design issues, and we have been in discussions with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), a national body set up by government to promote good design across the country. Whilst broadly welcoming the scheme, CABE has suggested a number of design improvements to the present proposals.

"The borough council is discussing these suggestions with the developers and the county council to see if the scheme can be improved."

He said: "At the same time, the developer is working to ensure that the old and new elements of the town centre are properly linked together.

"The borough council views this as vital to the future success of the scheme and avoiding the creation of two separate town centres.

"We hope that a decision on the planning application can be made as soon as possible. With co-operation from all parties, this could be as soon as February enabling the development to start as soon as possible."