PLANS for a major retail development in Durham city have been resurrected after being put on ice.

Dragon Lane LLP, a joint venture involving Kier Property Developments and the landowner, has put forward fresh plans to redevelop the site opposite Tesco Extra on the Dragonville Industrial Estate, on the outskirts of the city.

The group first announced plans to develop the largely empty warehouse site in 2015.

The new plans include proposals for a discount foodstore, non-food retail unit, which would house home store The Range, a garden centre and 272 space car park.

As well as knocking down the existing warehouses, the new proposal also includes plans to demolish six houses, which are part of a terrace in Dragon Lane, to make way for extra car parking.

The investment is aimed at regenerating the 1.97 hectare site, which is between Renny’s Lane and Damson Way, bringing it back into use, creating jobs and increasing choice for consumers.

The applicant’s statement says: “The proposal seeks to bring forward new investment in east Durham leading to regeneration of a largely derelict and unattractive site on a main road.”

Dragon Lane LLP says the proposed retail offer will be similar to the scheme put forward in 2015, but the discount food provider is now intended to be a new one rather than a relocation of Aldi, which is currently opposite the site.

There are currently two businesses operating from it, Durham Hand Car Wash and Walkers Furniture.

The land is opposite the former Mono Containers site, which was cleared to make way for a new Asda supermarket but the plans were officially withdrawn last July and the land remains undeveloped.

There has been significant investment in other industrial locations in the surrounding area, including the former Kerry Foods site, where Kwik Fit opened last year.

A public consultation on the original plans was held in 2015.