ENTREPRENEUR Duncan Bannatyne is not expected to revive his interest in setting up a base at one of the region's business developments.

The millionaire businessman pulled out of plans to open a gymnasium at Morton Palms, on the outskirts of Darlington, in 2002, amid a row with council officials.

He had a disagreement with borough council planners over whether sports chain JJB would gain permission to build a £6m Soccerdome at the Cummins factory site, in nearby Yarm Road.

Mr Bannatyne withdrew his plans after the council declined to give a guarantee that it would reject the rival project for going against planning policy.

The JJB scheme was abandoned earlier this year after the council said it included too large a retail element.

The scrapping of the project is still unlikely to lead Mr Bannatyne to reconsider his stance.

A spokeswoman for him said: "There is no interest at the moment.