Firm appointed to design and construct new £35m Railway Heritage Quarter
CONTRACTOR Willmott Dixon has been appointed by Darlington Borough Council to deliver its £35 million Railway Heritage Quarter.
The project will transform the Head of Steam museum in North Road, which includes the goods shed and carriage works, as a major visitor attraction for both UK and overseas tourists in time for the bicentennial celebrations of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 2025.
The contract is for the design and build of a new Railway Heritage Quarter museum, including the refurbishment of Grade II-listed buildings, a new live engineering shed, and an immersive experience building featuring holograms of trains and static displays, a café and shop, a new public realm, parking provision, and a railway-themed children’s play area.
The project is being supported by £20 million of funding from the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, as reported.
Council leader Jonathan Dulston said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to relaunch Darlington as the birthplace of the railways, the town that financially supported the initial idea of the passenger railway.
“It has taken a great deal of time, passion, energy, and ingenuity to reach this stage of the project and it is with a great deal of pride that we set the Railway Heritage Quarter on track for completion in time for the bicentenary celebrations.”
‘Ambitious’
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “This top-quality scheme will include attractions never seen before in our region.
“This ambitious attraction will tell the story of how we helped shape the world through our rail heritage and innovation for generations.”
Based in Letchworth Garden City, Willmott Dixon won The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2014, 2018 and 2019. The Railway Heritage Quarter is its 25th project in the Tees Valley since 2010. Anthony Dillon, the company’s Northern operations managing director, said: “We are delighted to be once again working in partnership with Darlington Borough Council to showcase Darlington’s proud railway heritage that transformed the local area nearly 200 years ago.
As reported in issue 291, previous council leader Coun Heather Scott cut the first turf on March 3 to mark the start of construction of the project.