Great King Street could be an area in line for major investment

A prospective development company, whose identity has not been revealed, laid out its proposals to councillors during a private session.

It is understood the plans, for retail, housing and roads, represent an investment of around �50m.

A key element of the strategy is said to involve bringing a major UK department store to the town centre.

It is believed the proposed development would be focused largely on the Great King Street and Queensberry Street areas.

Calls for cash to help Dumfries town centre were made recently

News of the potential investment project comes as Dumfries and Galloway Council set to go public with a major town centre regeneration strategy for Dumfries.

Recently the local council and Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown also made the case for cash to be given to the town to help upgrade areas in need of investment.

The Scottish Executive did not rule out the possibility of extending a scheme currently dedicated to improving cities but said it was too early to say whether such investment could be made.