PLANS for a new shopping centre in Darlington are to be decided in autumn.
An application covering the design and layout of the £45m development in Queen Street will be discussed at a Darlington Borough Council planning meeting in September.
At a meeting of Darlington's Town Centre Forum, members heard that an outline application had been submitted to the council.
The local authority is working with St Martin's Property Investments to transform the Queen Street Arcade, which was built in the 1960s.
The redevelopment will include a two-storey extension to the arcade, a department store and a multi-storey car park.
Leisure facilities, a restaurant, gallery and high street names may also be included in the plans.
Council leader Councillor John Williams, who chaired the meeting, said: "It is very exciting for Darlington and it will benefit everyone.
"Hopefully we are looking forward to another major department store in there too."
The full application is expected to be decided by councillors at a planning meeting at the weekend.
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