The town centre development partnership between Darlington Borough Council and Cityheart is proposing new offices on the former Sports Direct site, south of East Street and behind the library. The project aims to deliver high-quality workspace that will attract businesses and employers looking to locate near the new Government Economic Campus off Brunswick Street.

What's the plan?

The proposals are the first phase of the transformation of this area, creating a new commercial hub which complements the Economic Campus, bringing further investment, jobs and opportunities to the town centre.

The plan also involves the demolition of the Wilko building to the north of East Street, which will be used for car parking on an interim basis until further plans are ready to come forward.

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The office development will provide:

More than 50,000 sq ft of Grade A office space
A highly sustainable building with BREEAM Excellent accreditation
Market-leading amenities and specification for occupiers
High-quality design with attractive brick detailing that reflects the character of the local area and complements the listed library
New public realm, footways and seating areas that will open up access to the River Skerne and improve connections with the town centre
Safe and secure internal cycle storage

The former Wilko site forms a later phase of the overall masterplan. Demolishing the building will remove a local eyesore and a source of antisocial behaviour from the town centre. In the interim, the site will become a modern, safe and convenient surface car park with dedicated electric vehicle charging bays and accessible parking bays.