Feethams is an important part of the town centre. In recent years the town centre has been pedestrianised and in 2010 the Oval Development is due to open at the northern end of the town centre, providing new retail and leisure facilities. Feethams, therefore, could be used to fulfil some of the other ambitions local people have for the town, such as:

Attracting more visitors and shoppers
Attracting more highly paid jobs
Improving the riverside area.

These were things local people said they wanted in 2006 when we consulted them about Tesco’s proposals to build a supermarket in this part of town. The proposal was rejected after the majority of people consulted said they did not want that type of development in Feethams.

What will it mean for Darlington to redevelop this part of the town centre?

Re-developing Feethams will mean an improved town centre, but how that will look and what will be included, is not clear. That’s why we want to hear from local people – to give them the chance to shape the future of Feethams. It could mean we develop a better riverside area – a public space for people to enjoy, more cafes and bars, different shops, a hotel, new car parks and high quality offices.

It is very early days and at the moment we are only asking what sorts of things people would like to see in the future. That will help the Council to create a ‘planning and development brief’ a document used to determine any planning applications in the future. We are NOT talking about specific designs of buildings or open spaces.

Why do we have to have CTC Marine offices? Can they be moved within the area for development?

One of the aims for developing the Feethams area is to provide new office space to attract more highly paid jobs to the town. CTC Marine has come to us, expressing an interest in having town centre offices on the Beaumont Street side of the area.

Does that mean the Council has already made its mind up about the Feethams area? What’s the point of consulting local people?

The Council has not made up its mind about Feethams. A developer approached the council about building high quality offices in the town centre. This provided the Council with an opportunity to meet some of the needs for more offices, to attract highly paid jobs into the town centre. While that does mean that part of the Beaumont Street side of the development area will be occupied by offices, ideas for how the rest of Feethams should be used are still needed.

Will we end up with another big supermarket on Feethams?

Local people made it clear in 2006 that they did not want a big supermarket on the site. Since then the Council and the Feethams and Markets Working Group have looked at what else the site could be used for. While independent analysis says there is a need for food retail in the Feethams area, it will not take the form of a large superstore.

Do we have to have a food retailer?

No, we do not have to have a food retailer in the area, but a requirement for food retail has been identified for the town centre through planning processes. Independent analysts have suggested food retail could be one of the types of retailers we would want to include. If you have a better idea, tell us about it by taking part in the consultation.

Can we have a bus station?

No, a bus station is not possible. The bus operators do not want a bus station. If we did have one, the cost of building it would be passed on to passengers through higher ticket prices. The new town centre was designed to allow buses to stop at different places in the town centre, to allow greater accessibility. However, if people would like better facilities for while they wait for buses in Feethams, they should let us know by taking part in the consultation.

Are there any plans to improve coach travel facilities?

The Council recognises the need for improved facilities. We would welcome your views on what could be done. Details of how to do this are available in the July edition of the Town Crier or on-line.

Can we have a cinema?

No. The Oval Development, at the northern end of the town centre, includes a cinema and other leisure facilities. Therefore it would not make sense to build another cinema in the town centre.

Are there opportunities for increasing leisure provision within the development?

Proposals within the planning brief include opportunities to create a riverside promenade for pedestrians and cyclists and public spaces in addition to cafes, bars and restaurants.

Do we have to have a car park?

Answer: In order to replace the car parking spaces in Beaumont Street, which will be lost when that part of the site is developed for offices, we must create a car park elsewhere within the area. The car parking could be provided in a number of ways, two of which are shown in Options 1 and 2. If you have a different idea, tell us about it by taking part in the consultation.

What will be the impact on traffic?

The impact of the scheme on traffic management and congestion will be assessed as part of the planning process.

Do we have to have a hotel?

No. A hotel is one of the many different types of things which could be considered for the area. If there was a new hotel, it would mean more people could stay in Darlington, boosting town centre trade. If you have a better idea, tell us about it by taking part in the consultation.

What does mixed use mean?

Mixed use includes offices, retail, residential and leisure. For example, one building within Feethams could have shops, cafes and bars on the ground floor, with offices above, or apartments and offices. If you have a better idea, tell us about it by taking part in the consultation.

How long will it take to develop Feethams?

It is a long-term plan – although things are already starting to happen on parts of the site. The Council has earmarked part of the Beaumont Street area for offices and it is in the process of securing a developer for this. The offices will take up a small part of the seven acre area, but we also need to think about what else we want to see on the rest of the area, so we have a clear idea of how Feethams should develop over the coming ten years or more.

Who will pay for the development?

The Council is working with private developers to improve the area. Developers will be financing the development.

How will people’s views affect the development?

We need people to give us their ideas, because the Council and the Feethams and Markets Working Group don’t have all the answers. There will be things we have not thought of, so the opinions of local people are vital in making the town a success.

What happens next?

Your views will help to form the basis of what is eventually built in Feethams. The information will be used to create a ‘planning and development brief.’ This is a council document used to set out the types of uses and businesses and where they might fit into the Feethams area. This will inform the Council’s decisions when considering planning applications in the future.

How will the development of Feethams affect the future of the Kids and Co nursery at the Town Hall?

If the redevelopment of Feethams involves the demolition of the nursery, the childcare facilities will be provided for either elsewhere on site, or within Darlington.