Improvement work in Hounslow town centre has moved one step closer after a long-standing £1m debt was finally paid.

Hounslow Council found itself under growing pressure to secure the huge cash sum, owed by the developers of the Blenheim Centre, after years passed without payement.

But this week Legal & General Property (LGP) revealed it had bought the centre for £35.5m, which resulted in Area Property Partners, formerly Apollo Real Estate Advisors, paying the debt.

Hounslow Central Residents’ Association (HCRA) had become increasingly frustrated with the council for not collecting the cash, which was promised if developers failed to build a link from the centre to Hounslow Central Tube station by November 2007.

HCRA member Trevor Timpson welcomed the latest development as “very beneficial for future development of the town centre”.

He said: “If the developers avoided payment it would have made it hard to believe any assurances given in consultations on future developments.

“We hope any new owners of the centre will continue with the work still required under the planning conditions – on the planting of trees and other landscaping and the appalling state of the pavement in front of the building.”

The money is to be used on improving links between the centre and public transport.

The council is currently preparing a report on what to use the cash for.

Although no decisions have been made, access and environment are two priority issues.

Deputy leader of the council Councillor Ruth Cadbury said: “It’s great to see a company with such a great track record in property management and regeneration investing in the borough.

“Our initial contact with them has been very positive and while it is still very early, we look forward to a productive dialogue about the future of the town centre.”

Gordon Aitchison, LGP head of transactions, described the centre as an “attractively priced asset”.

It is not yet known what LGP’s future plans are for the site.