One Darlington September 2022

Transforming North
Exciting plans to regenerate Northgate, one of
Darlington’s most historic areas, have been revealed.
Improved housing, urban green space and opening up
access to the banks of the River Skerne are all part of
the Connecting Northgate project.
Northgate is one of the town’s key gateways, but the
ward is also one of our most deprived. The Connecting
Northgate project aims to improve the lives and
opportunities of residents living in the area, while
also securing the future of key heritage assets and
supporting the development of the £35m Rail Heritage
Quarter at the Head of Steam Railway Museum.
Funding for the planned works will come as part of the
wider £23.3m secured from the government’s Towns
Fund, which also includes projects in the town centre
and Victoria Road. The council has also made a £20m
bid to the government’s Levelling Up Fund, which will
focus on Northgate and transport improvements on the
busy A68 commuter route.
The first small step in the Northgate project is the
purchase of a derelict plot of land in Garden Street.
This was part of the Pease family gardens, most of
which is now covered by a car park and other modern
development. In the short term the land will be opened
up as a community garden, with longer term plans to
include it in the wider regeneration of the area.
These images show some of the artist impressions of
the proposals for Northgate, as well as a map showing
the ideas for the whole area.
These are also available to view on our website, along
with a more detailed report about the plans, in the
Connecting Northgate section of the Towns Fund
pages at www.darlington.gov.uk/townsfund
Cocker Beck
16 www.darlington.gov.uk/townsfund