A NEW multi-storey car park is being planned to take some of the strain off shoppers in Darlington town centre.

The Cornmill shopping centre's new owner, the Rachel Charitable Trust, hopes to overhaul the 250-space car park in Crown Street next year. A new level would be placed above the present car park, which was part of the shopping centre package the trust bought in April. The extension would increase the capacity to 400.

Further development could include a walkway from the first-floor level across Crown Street to the shopping centre.

Management agent Mr John Prestwich said this week that contracts had been exchanged for the purchase of the empty First Freeze building, which lay between the two sites.

He added: "Improvements to the Crown Street premises would remove a blot on the landscape and reflect the owner's increasing investment and confidence in Darlington.

"It's very early days and architects are still drawing up possible plans. It will be in the new year before we start looking at a particular scheme to submit to the borough council."