Bosses behind the controversial redevelopment of a former bingo hall say they will be able to issue an "exciting" update in early 2021.

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) appointed 'specialist developer' Milligan in the summer to help build its ambitious Lower High Street scheme.

Early plans first unveiled in February 2019 include demolishing the rear of the ex-Mecca Bingo site and turning the Vicarage Lane car park into a public square featuring an outdoor cinema screen.

But council leader Cllr Gerry Clarkson (Con) hinted at a recent cabinet meeting that more details are still to be revealed.

He dismissed calls for the 1936-built hall to be turned into a theatre, adding: "I think you might be pleasantly surprised with what Milligan hopes to do with the Mecca Bingo site.”

When asked for more detail on Cllr Clarkson's comments, an authority spokesman told KentOnline: "The council continues to work with its appointed consultants on developing exciting proposals for the scheme and we will be able to provide an update early in the new year.”

Milligan - which was involved in the construction of the town's Designer Outlet 20 years ago - has offices in London and Barcelona and has been behind scores of regeneration projects.

In 2018, ABC paid £1.8m for the bingo hall - which previously housed an Odeon cinema - and revealed its early plans for the Lower High Street spot in a public consultation last year.

But its proposed scheme - dubbed Odeon Square - has faced fierce opposition, with campaigners calling on the authority to turn the site into a theatre rather than knocking the majority of it down.

Last year, a request by the Cinema Theatre Association to have the building listed was rejected, allowing the council to continue to develop its plans.

Bosses say bulldozing the rear of the landmark site will open up views of St Mary's Church.

Despite looking to knock through the former cinema entrance, chiefs plan to retain most of the frontage, creating an indoor performance space in the ballroom on the first floor above the former foyer.

After appointing Milligan, Cllr Paul Clokie (Con) said in June how the council had been looking for “a stand-out performer who was passionate about using the Vicarage Lane scheme as a catalyst for town centre regeneration”.

He said: "We believe this scheme will help rejuvenate Ashford, enhance our cultural offer, create significant employment opportunities and help attract inward investment for the benefit of local communities."

If the Vicarage Lane car park does get built on, the authority is looking to offset the lost spaces by constructing a huge multi-storey car park in Station Road.

Earlier this year, Ashford council had put the brakes on a number of multi-million pound projects - including the Mecca scheme - after lockdown left a £4.5m gap in its finances.

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