Background to the Scheme
Central Park is a 30-hectare brownfield site, situated between Haughton Road, Yarm Road, Hundens Lane and the railway. It has been selected as one of the regeneration flagship projects for the Tees Valley and is to be developed over the coming few years.
Tees Valley Unlimited [external link], working with partners Darlington Borough Council / Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) have appointed consultants Gillespies [external link] to turn the vision into a master plan and drive the project forward. A study has been carried out to determine what remediation works need to be carried out before construction begins.
What It Includes
The new developments will provide:
- Up to 500 new homes, including family town houses and apartments;
- Around 2,000 jobs;
- Hotel and conference facilities close to the railway station;
- Leisure and community facilities;
- Green open space and sculpture park;
- High quality office accommodation;
- Impressive new link to the railway station.
Masterplan
Due to the economic downturn and changing market factors, it is not possible to deliver the original masterplan. The council, together with its development partners are in the process of revising the masterplan to ensure the scheme can be delivered in the current market conditions.
It is anticipated that the development brief on, which the masterplan will be based will be agreed early 2012, with the masterplan finalised shortly after.
The scheme represents a tremendous opportunity to revitalise a key strategic site near the centre of Darlington, bringing investment and jobs which will spread benefit throughout the town and beyond.
The site is very accessible, being within walking distance of the town centre, close to Darlington Railway Station and visible from the East Coast mainline railway. Darlington is close to the A1, M1 and A66 and only a short drive from Durham Tees Valley Airport.
One of the key elements of the scheme which has already been delivered is the education quarter which is the home to the new state-of-the-art Darlington College and University of Teesside building
Progress
- Undergrounding of the electric cables was completed in March 2005.
- The new college opened to the public in August 2006.
- University of Teesside building opened September 2011
- Work is now complete on the Haughton Road junction. This has provided access to the college and will serve the development as more work progresses.
- Works commenced on Lascelles Park on 18 April 2006 and are estimated for completion in early October 2006. This is for the relocation of allotments from Hundens Lane, which is to be developed as part of the Central Park scheme.
- Developer consortium CKY appointed and development agreement signed April 2009.
Associated Planning Applications
Planning applications associated with the scheme are as follows:
| Date |
Location |
Brief Description |
Reference No. |
| 22/07/2004 |
Haughton Road |
Erection of 2 advertisement hoardings. |
04/00845/ADV |
| 27/06/2005 |
Lascelles Park |
Change of use from public open space to allotments. |
05/00608/CU |
| 11/07/2005 |
Central Park development site |
Mixed use development comprising residential, office, hotel and conference facilities, a range of leisure and community facilities and open space (in outline). |
05/00643/OUT |
| 11/07/2005 |
Land South of West Moor Road |
Development of Commercial Stables and Associated Works. |
06/00065/DC |
Applications associated with Darlington College are listed elsewhere.