Bid for ‘once in a generation’ change
£20M PLANS SUBMITTED TO GOVERNMENT
AN ambitious £20m bid has been submitted to the Government as part of a plan to ‘level up’ and improve deprived areas.
Darlington Council submitted the proposal which would see significant development of the Northgate ward, the creation of a quality bus corridor and enhancing the offer of the Rail Heritage Quarter development. Part of the grant would be used to build on work already under way for the heritage quarter which is part of the 2025 Bicentenary celebrations of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
The submission has been requested as part of the Government’s Levelling Up Fund Round 2, which is a £4.8bn fund that will support town and city centre regenerations, local transport projects and cultural heritage assets. If successful, it would add to the Towns Fund bid of £23.3m which also includes regeneration plans for the town.
The regeneration part of the bid would focus on significant redevelopment of the Northgate ward to bring internationally recognised heritage assets back into use. It would also open up urban green spaces, housing opportunities and create jobs in the area. Councillor Jonathan Dulston, leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: “Northgate has the potential to be one of our great cultural assets, it is home to many of our heritage treasures and one of our key gateways. The proposals we’ve put together are ambitious but realistic – we know we can deliver. At the same time it is also the most deprived ward in town and it is imperative that we act to close the inequality gap that exists by providing better homes, job opportunities and transport links. This is a once in a generation chance to transform this part of town, to pull people out of deprivation and to breathe new life into neglected streets, buildings and urban spaces.”
Transport is also a focus as part of this submission and the council is hoping to tackle congestion and address residents’ concerns on the A68, which is the busiest arterial route in the town and a key link connecting Northgate to the wider town. They will do this by creating a quality bus corridor and deliver high quality walking and cycling facilities.
Councillor Andy Keir, cabinet member for local services, said: “This package of proposals is widereaching and ambitious. We want to achieve great things and with the help of this funding to supplement projects that are already ongoing in Northgate and around the Rail Heritage Quarter, we fully believe we can do that.”
The proposals we’ve
put together are ambitious but realistic – we know we can
deliver.
Cllr Jonathan
Dulston