ANOTHER major shopping centre is being lined up as part of a retail revolution in Darlington, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Investream Limited, acting on behalf of the owners of the town's Cornmill Centre, is hoping to secure permission for a 32,000sq ft development nearby.

The company is believed to have held talks with several big name stores about the possibility of moving into the centre, which would be built on the Crown Street car park.

The two-storey development would also provide decked parking above the shopping centre for 412 cars.

News of the proposals emerged shortly after detailed plans for the new £45m Queen Street shopping arcade, at the other end of the town centre, were unveiled, which is aimed at making Darlington one of the region's leading retail centres.

Business leaders welcomed the prospect of hundreds of jobs being created in the 26-store centre.

Investream said its development would be separate from the Cornmill.

Spokesman Ian Cody said: "The local authority plan identifies that site as suitable for further car parking and retail or commercial use. Our view is that we would like to take advantage of that.

"But there is nothing in our plans which provide a direct link between the Crown Street car park and the centre."

Darlington Borough Council will consider the application in the next few months.

Council bosses have also revealed the company which will be behind creating a £5m "pedestrian heart" in Darlington town centre.

Under the scheme the south end of Northgate, Prospect Place, High Row and Skinnergate would be pedestrianised, with design work starting in April and a planning application expected by June.

Gillespies, which was behind the creation of Buchanan Street, in Glasgow, has been chosen.