British band N-Dubz pose (Dappy left)
The way they were: the British group at the height of their fame Reuters

Four years after they split to pursue solo careers N-Dubz are heading back in the studio to make new material.

According to Fazor, he, Tulisa Contostavlos and Dappy are working on fresh material and the group will reunite next year.

"We've been so busy with our own commitments that we haven't had time to come back yet. But we're going to start recording in the second half of next year," he told the Daily Mail.

"We'll definitely be writing new material, we won't just be using old stuff. We want to come back like Black Eyed Peas."

It has been an eventful few years for the London-based trio, who found fame in 2006 with their hit I Swear.

Contostavlos enjoyed a stint on The X Factor judging panel before being unceremoniously axed. She was then charged over drugs after an undercover sting and she recently appeared in court accused of attacking a blogger at a festival.

Dappy has had his own share of run-ins with the law, which include an assault conviction last month. He has also babbled on reality TV with an appearance on Celebrity Big Brother.

In December, Fazor, whose real name is Richard Rawson, filed for bankruptcy after struggling to pay his tax bills. On a more positive note, the producer became a father and reportedly worked with Rihanna on her seventh studio album.

The award-winning group, whose hits include I Need You and Playing with Fire have sold nearly 2 million records. A reunion could see them finally return to their former glory.