Plans to open the St James’ Development on time are forging ahead despite the setback of the original builders pulling out.

Developers say they are pushing to still open by next autumn, as planned, and are making arrangements with new contractors for the Dover project.

Faye Walters, spokesman for the project leaders and fundraisers Legal and General, said: “We are fully committed to the scheme and it’s in all of our interests for it to open as soon as possible.

“We have been working hard to finalise plans to ensure we maintain the target programme of Autumn 2017 and we will be in a position to confirm more on this soon.”

Kier had only in May been awarded a £24 million contract by project managers, Bond City, to deliver the £53 million leisure and retail development off Townwall Street.

But it has now said it cannot reach an agreement on the next stage of the development.

Paul Abraham, company operations director for Kier Construction Southern said: “We have successfully delivered our element of the enabling works package for the St James development but have been unable to reach consensus on the next phase of the project.

“We will continue to support our client Bond City Ltd as part of our handover.”

Dover District Council is also in partnership with L&G and Bond City in a project and the three organisations said in a joint statement: “We are fully committed to delivering St James, Dover.

"We are finalising plans with a contractor for the project and look forward to getting started on this exciting new retail and leisure development for Dover.

“We have made great progress to date and anchor brands already signed up for the scheme include Marks & Spencer, Next, Cineworld and Travelodge.

“We are fully committed to the scheme and it’s in all of our interests for it to open as soon as possible.

"We have been working hard with our contractor to ensure we maintain the target programme and we will be in a position to confirm more on this soon.”

The development includes a six-screen cinema and also restaurants and several shops on 156,915 sq ft of land.

Parking for 445 vehicles is planned.

Pre-construction work had begun as early as in the spring.