In 2006, Tesco approached Darlington Borough Council with a request to build a new supermarket in the town centre. A consultation followed, where Darlington residents were encouraged to give their opinion on what they felt a supermarket would contribute to the Town Centre. After an incredible response from the general public, the scheme was rejected.

Tesco Scheme Rejected - Now Council looks to the future

Supermarket firm Tesco’s plans to redevelop a large part of Darlington town have been formally rejected.

The company had approached Darlington Council with a project that would have seen a superstore, car park, apartments, a new Town Hall and petrol station built.

The proposals would have seen the existing Town Hall and bus depot pulled down to make way for the development.

But the scheme will officially not be going ahead, after councillors voted overwhelming not to make the authority’s land available to Tesco.

They supported the recommendation made by Council Leader John Williams, who urged members to reject the scheme following a major public consultation exercise.

Seventy-eight per cent of people who gave their views during the Council’s Have Your Say exercise were against Tesco’s plans.

At Thursday night’s full council meeting, Councillor Williams said the Tesco rejection was the right decision for Darlington - and added that he shared the public’s view that no large supermarket or superstore-led development should ever take place in the town centre.

He also said he would be opposed to any similar development on the periphery of the town centre, such as the ring road.

Councillor Williams is now looking forward to working with the Town Centre Board and community leaders whose views were prominent during the consultation period on how best to develop the Feethams area.

He said: “I am delighted that the Tesco scheme has been formally rejected. We listened carefully to the views of the people of Darlington and took the decision in accordance with their wishes.

“It is important now that we move forward from this debate and focus on the regeneration of this area of the town centre.

“We must work together to ensure that Darlington has the vibrant and thriving town centre everyone wants to see, with its historic markets at the heart of that.”