PROPERTY developers are in talks with council bosses this week over ambitious plans to bring a retail and leisure park to Bishop Auckland.

The proposals include an eight-screen multiplex cinema, restaurant facilities and 1,000 car park spaces.

Property company Terrace Hill North-East Ltd has earmarked 13.3 hectares of land in St Helen Way, Tindale Crescent, for the development, which is defined as industrial land in the Wear Valley District Plan.

If the plans come to fruition, the site, which will encompass the former Warner Electrics factory, will see DIY giants B&Q move from Bob Hardisty Drive in the town to open a 5,110 sq metre 'new generation mini warehouse' with ancillary garden centre and builders' yard with 300 parking spaces.

There would also be a two-storey eight-screen cinema and single storey bingo hall with a bistro pub/restaurant, a drive through restaurant and three retail units.

Duncan McEwan, development executive at Terrace Hill, who met staff from Wear Valley District Council's regeneration department this week, said the idea for the new park came initially from plans to move B&Q to the outskirts of town.

He said that talks with the council revealed a demand for a new cinema and discussions went from there.

He said: "We are very optimistic that this could happen. I am very excited about it. We already have interest from an international cinema chain and a national bingo operator but there are still things that we need to discuss with the council.''

Bob Hope, director of regeneration at the council, said that there was still a lot of work to be done.

He said: "It will be an interesting application because this is something that the people of Bishop Auckland have been asking for for a long time. But we need to make sure that it will not detract in any way from the town centre."

Derek Toon, town centre manager for Bishop Auckland, welcomed the development.

He said: "We have been asking for a cinema in Bishop Auckland for a long time now and if we cannot identify a site in the town centre this is the next best thing.

"Obviously, I will be sorry to lose B&Q from the town centre and we will be looking to fill that unit as soon as we can."