After months of uncertainty over the town's new multi-million pound Waitrose development, the wait is finally over.

Crunch talks over the future of the supermarket will be held at a special meeting of Wychavon District Council next Tuesday.

Members will consider revised terms and if approved, work is set to start at the beginning of the New Year.

Brian Norfolk, the council's head of community services, said: "These revised terms will mean that Wychavon will be putting extra funding into the scheme to receive an increased return.

"If the council approves the revised arrangements, the legal documents will be finalised ready for a signature at the end of November. Work should start on the site in January."

If given the go-ahead, the project will mean the demolition of the Market Hall and three shops in Gurneys Lane, along with a garage block at the rear of St Andrew's Carpets and a brewery building behind the Talbot pub, both off the High Street.

The two-storey Waitrose building will be built by the supermarket giant, then bought by the council and leased back.

Proposals had included a coffee shop, cash machines, toilets and an extended car park but features will be finalised once they have exchanged agreements with the council.

But some members of the council are uncertain about the revised terms.

Councillor Roy Seabourne (Lab-West) said: "While we would like to see the town centre rejuvenated, the increase in cost to Wychavon District Council is so large, we feel far more information has to be made available to members before we can support this without question.

"It's not that we are objecting but we must do our duty to ensure public money is being protected," he added.

Cllr Graham Gopsill ( Lib-Dem-Central) also feels the district council should steer clear of property development themselves and believes the money would have been better spent on buying a block of ready made flats.

But Cllr Pam Davey (Con) said: "The council will have to pay back more initially but will receive more back afterwards.

"I am delighted with the news. I have been inundated with requests from people anxious to know when the work on Waitrose will start and now we should be able to go ahead."

Council leader Martin Jennings said: "While the delay has been frustrating, we are determined to make sure Droitwich Spa town centre will be rejuvenated and will hugely benefit from the investment in Waitrose.

"The resolution of these problems is very good news for residents and traders as the new store is set to open in spring 2005."

A spokesman for Waitrose said: "The principal features of the development have not changed, however we are discussing revised terms with the district council in the light of the complexity of this scheme.

"The project has proved more complex from a technical point of view than originally anticipated. However we look forward to starting work in the New Year."