DEVELOPERS behind a £50m designer retail park predict it will attract visitors from across the North of England – but others warn it will threaten nearby regeneration projects.

The Scotch Corner Designer Village, just off the A1M, was given the go-ahead by Richmondshire District Council on Thursday (January 29).

The development, between Richmond and Darlington, is expected to be the biggest designer outlet park in the North-East and North Yorkshire and will focus on luxury and high-end brands. It will be based on a similar outlet in Oxford, Bicester Village, where Gucci, Dior and Prada all have a presence. Developers anticipate visitors to spend a massive £100m a year in the park.

The 33.5 acre site will have about 90 stores and at least nine restaurants and is expected to generate 700 new jobs.

But its critics say such a large leisure and retail development could jeopardise redevelopment projects planned for the centre of Northallerton and Catterick Garrison, as well as impacting on existing trade in nearby towns including Darlington, Northallerton and Richmond.

Martin Hughes, a spokesman for Scotch Corner Richmond Llp, which is behind the scheme, said they estimated the development would attract two and three-quarter of a million visitors a year from across the North. He said they were considering including a tourist information point to encourage visitors to explore the wider area.

“They’re designed to be pleasant environments so people do dwell there rather than a soulless retail park,” he said.

“The rough view is that about 25 per cent of visitors will come from the millions of cars that go up and down the A1 and the rest will come primarily from the North of England.

“The experience at Bicester in Oxford is that people come from large swathes of the south to visit. It does attract a wide catchment.”

The plans now go to the Secretary of State for consultation under planning rules for major out of town developments.

Corporate director at Richmondshire District Council Callum McKeon said: “We believe that this development will compliment the variety of shops found in Darlington, Northallerton and Teesside because it is something new for Richmondshire and none of the designer outlets proposed for the Scotch Corner development are currently found in those locations.”

Committee Chairman Councillor Jane Parlour added: “It will not only plug a gap in the market, it will provide a massive number of jobs for local people. It will also bring in visitors to our district – which yet again will have a positive knock on effect on the Richmondshire economy.”

While Richmondshire council leader John Blackie, said it was a “mega project that has it all” and would bring visitors who would go on to explore the nearby dales and towns.

But neighbouring councils disagree. Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Hambleton all strongly criticised the plans. Their objections will now be passed on to the secretary of state.

Hambleton District Councillor Brian Phillips said it will have a catastrophic impact on major regeneration projects for the centre of Northallerton and Catterick, both of which were due to include retail and leisure developments.

“We don’t feel the impact assessment was particularly robust because we did an economic development assessment over the last year which included market towns and we felt we should be supporting the high street wherever possible.

“It’s not just the location of the development; it’s the size of the development as well. In addition to the national and international brands that will be there, there are also quite a number of cafe-type shops and possible entertainment developments.”

He added: “I think something such as this will certainly impact on Northallerton. I’m surprised they didn’t think it would impact on the town of Richmond itself as well.”

Bob Brady, vice chairman of Middlesbrough Council, who sits on the council’s economic regeneration panel said he thought the development was too far away to harm shops and businesses in the Middlesbrough area: “I don’t think it will impact too much on Middlesbrough but it will provide jobs to the area - and much-needed jobs as well.

“Scotch Corner is right in the heart of the North-East and North Yorkshire area. If it attracts people and gives people jobs then why not indeed. I don’t think shops like Gucci and Armarni are competing with shops round here.”