Step forward for Darlington regeneration partnership

Cityheart selected to lead development consortium.

A potential development partner for a significant regeneration project across three town centre locations has been identified.

The three sites are strategically located on East Street, next to the location for the new Treasury offices, and on Commercial Street and Kendrew Street.

Following a rigorous procurement selection process, the preferred development partner for the delivery of the project is a consortium led by Cityheart, including Willmott Dixon, Space Architects, Identity Consult and others.

Cityheart is a leading developer which specialise in public partnership with a growing portfolio of groundbreaking regeneration projects across the UK.

The council will now begin engaging with Cityheart to identify development opportunities in these specific areas of the town and agree a comprehensive long term development approach.

At the end of this period, the outcome of this engagement work will be taken to Cabinet early next year, to consider and inform any further commitment going forward.

Cllr Chris McEwan, cabinet member for economy said: “This is a huge step forward for our town in terms of regenerating areas which we know are ripe for development and improvement, and an exciting time for Darlington as a whole. Now plans are being explored with a preferred partner consortium, we are one step closer to work getting underway.

“Make no mistake, this has the potential to be one of the biggest and most exciting improvement projects our town centre has seen for many years. It is an ambitious initiative of a scale that was last seen when the town centre remodelling works were carried out in the 1960s and 80s, with the development opportunities in question covering a significant area in terms of square footage. I fully believe this work will be of huge benefit to everyone who lives, works and enjoys spending their leisure time in our town centre.”

James Litherland, of Cityheart, commented: “Darlington town centre has huge potential which has been bolstered by the relocation of the Treasury and other governments departments within the new Economic Campus. We have pulled together an exemplar North East team including construction partner Willmott Dixon and we cannot wait to get started on this transformational project.

"Darlington represents the continued growth of Cityheart into new regions, including the North East, where we aim to make a real difference in transforming places with our partners."