Plans for the regeneration of Hitchin's Churchgate area have taken another step forward as North Herts Council begins the search for a development partner.

The council is launching a procurement process to find a partner to carry out a feasibility study looking at the future of Churchgate Shopping Centre, Biggin Lane Car Park and the Portmill East and West car parks.

The successful development partner will assess potential options for the sites and examine which ideas are financially and practically deliverable.

The work will look at potential community benefits, Hitchin's character and heritage, the needs of residents, businesses and visitors, environmental objectives and economic viability.

It will also be guided by the council's Development Principles, which were shaped following consultation with residents and other stakeholders.

However, the council stressed that no decisions have yet been made about the form, scale or timing of any redevelopment.

The procurement process does not commit the authority to a particular proposal, but is intended to establish what opportunities and constraints exist across the sites.

Councillor Tamsin Thomas, North Herts Council's Executive Member for Enterprise, described the move as a "huge step forward" for the long-running Churchgate project.

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She said: "Appointing a development partner is a huge step forward for Churchgate, building on all the work we have done to understand the potential of the site and, importantly, what local people have told us they want for its future.

"Working with our development partner, we can start to flesh out the detail.

"I'm excited to see ideas take shape for the Hiz and our public spaces, for supporting Hitchin Market and our town centre shops, and for creating new housing opportunities for our residents.

"There is still a lot of work to do, and we need to make sure it's viable, but this is an exciting next step in turning the community's ambitions for Churchgate into something we can deliver."

Churchgate Shopping Centre remains home to a range of businesses and the council says there will be no changes to the centre's current operation or management while the procurement process takes place.

Tenants, businesses, residents and other stakeholders will be involved in future consultation and decision-making as the project progresses.