PLANNERS working on the final design of a £25m town centre for Newton Aycliffe say only one issue remains outstanding.

Developers CTP said it is optimistic that an agreement on how best to link the town centre to the scheme can be reached quickly.

A decision on the planning application has been delayed several times while months of intensive discussions have been taking place.

John Litherland, Sedgefield Borough Council's director of planning and technical services, said he believed several design improvements had been agreed.

These include better quality pedestrian access, high quality landscaping around the edge of the development, and an improved bus interchange facility.

He said: "These are significant issues, but the most important issue is the need to ensure integration with the existing town centre - that is far more significant.

"We need to ensure that whatever application is approved can be implemented.

"An awful lot of work has been done between the developer and the existing town centre owners to ensure that what appears on the plan can be built."

He said: "CTP have informed us that they are very confident that an agreement can now be reached.

"We need to have that agreement in place for us to approve the planning application.

"There is a danger if that was not the case then we would finish up with only part of the scheme which could be implemented.

"That would, in effect, result in the development of a new area with first class facilities, but with a poor linkage with the existing town centre. Clearly, the people of Newton Aycliffe would not be happy with that."

At the heart of the scheme is a 69,000sq ft Tesco supermarket, together with a large car park. The plan includes 86,000sq ft of non-food shops, a library, health centre, youth centre and drop-in centre.

There will also be a new petrol station, town square, health and fitness club, pub, offices and a landscaped town park.

Mr Litherland said it was still hoped the application could be heard next month, but added that a development control meeting would be held as soon as the agreement is in place