A LONG-AWAITED multi-million pound leisure complex in Darlington town centre is finally set to become a reality.

Developers Terrace Hill has submitted an outline planning application to build a multiplex cinema, bingo club, restaurants and multi-storey car park in the Feethams area of town.

The company hopes the £7m development will get the go-ahead from the council, with work possibly starting on the site as early next year.

The Feethams leisure scheme has been mooted for years but a wrangle over land has resulted in a delay.

Terrace Hill owns land opposite the bus station, while Simons Estates are in control of the Arriva site.

Each firm had similar plans for the area, but talks between the developers and Darlington Borough Council have resulted in a compromise being reached.

It is expected that the Terrace Hill development will go-ahead first, with Simons Estates following with a scheme which will compliment the new attractions.

Robert Cansick, director of Terrace Hill, said that the company is very excited about the scheme.

"There are very few sites of this nature in the whole country which are so close to the existing town centre," he said.

"We are extremely excited about this scheme in Darlington and if approval is given we hope to be on site next year, with the building programme starting early in 2002."

Terrace Hill is currently talking to a number of major leisure firms who have expressed an interest in the site.

The cinema will consist of eight screens and there will also be a health and fitness club, bingo club, restaurants and 350-space car park.

Darlington Borough Council leader John Williams said: "This is a key site in the town centre and it is absolutely vital that what we finally agree to matches and complements the rest of the area.

"People have waited a long time for this site to be developed and we are now trying to move forward as quickly as we can."

Completion of the Feethams leisure scheme is one of the main components of a ten-year town centre development strategy for Darlington, released in draft form last week, which is aimed at securing the long-term economic future of the town.