THE third phase of an award-winning multi-million pound town centre revamp is scheduled to begin next year.

The Freshwater Group, owners of Aycliffe Shopping Centre in Newton Aycliffe, has announced that Churchill House and connecting shops will be demolished in March.

Durham County Council will begin further improvement works at the leisure centre at the same time to complement the wider redevelopment of the town.

Flats located above the former HSBC bank unit are being upgraded to be brought back into residential use, while the former Woolworths, Boola and G8vibes stores will be combined into one large retail unit for a potential let currently under discussion.

New signage will also be installed and an open gateway will be created to help give the town an open plan feel.

Newton Aycliffe town centre has undergone a dramatic transformation over the last two years.

The unsightly concrete ramp and oppressive shop canopies have been removed and new paving, seating and a spiral staircase have been installed.

New retailers, including Aldi and Wilko's, have opened stores and existing businesses have been encouraged to expand.

The changes have not gone unnoticed.

Earlier this month, The Freshwater Group scooped a gold award at the British Council of Shopping Centres annual awards dinner in London.

The awards jury, drawn from leading experts in investment, development, management and architecture, said Newton Aycliffe now boasted a town centre residents could be proud of.

Churchill House was due to be demolished in June but utility work delayed the project.

With work now back on track, Freshwater’s quest to transform the town centre is nearing completion.

Bryan Haldane, town centre manager, said: “All of these works are continuing to build upon the British Council of Shopping Centres award jury’s comments that Newton Aycliffe is an example of an amazing small centre transformation which has been fully supported by our local MP, Phil Wilson, Durham County Council, and Great Aycliffe Town Council.”

Mr Wilson, whose constituency office is in the centre, said: “I have seen the centre transformed from a drab, miserable place to one where people want to shop and spend time.

“All credit to the town centre partnership, Freshwater and the town centre management for their effort, investment and foresight.

“The town centre is going through a further period of transformation and the continuing improvement can only make it more of an asset to Newton Aycliffe.”