PLANS for an £18m supermarket in the heart of a Teesside town have been unveiled.

Developers hope to breathe new life into Stockton town centre with the proposal for the "iconic" food store and decked car park at the Castlegate Shopping Centre.

The owner, Redleaf VI, hopes to invest millions in the centre in the coming years to better compete with other shopping precincts in Darlington and Middlesbrough.

The company has applied to Stockton Borough Council for outline planning permission, with the aim of building the project in two phases at the south end of the centre.

There will be entrances to the supermarket from inside the Castlegate Centre, next to Wilkinson's, and from Bridge Road.

It is proposed that the present multi-storey car park be demolished, along with some shops underneath, and a car park and ramp built to fit in with the scheme.

A cafe/restaurant may be included in the plans, to overlook the River Tees, along with a water feature, sculpture and landscaping on Riverside Road.

Ashley Blake, property director of Lathe Investments, which owns Redleaf, said, "Stockton town centre has long deserved a major food store as a retail anchor and, as part of the Southern Gateway proposal, we are planning to develop one within Castlegate.

"We are looking to enhance shopping facilities in Stockton town centre with this innovative and prestigious £18m scheme. Our joint aim is to bring a major new anchor store to Stockton to improve the vitality and retail offer of the town centre."

He said as the new owner of the Castlegate Shopping Centre, Lathe Investments was hoping to secure its future from the threat of out-of-town developments.

And, as part of its plans, Redleaf has already been given planning permission to remove the indoor market in the centre by the end of the year.

It will be replaced with up to three stores, along with an elaborate ceiling facade.

Councillor Bob Cook, Stockton council's cabinet member for regeneration and transport, said: "The aim of the proposals is to enhance the retail facilities in Stockton by anchoring the southern end of the High Street."

He added: "A food store would significantly increase the footfall at the southern end of the centre, create more activity and lead to linked trips to other facilities in the centre.