Town centre 'is in need of investment'

Their comments came after a "health check" of the vitality of the town centre was carried out by the MT Town Planning Services consultancy company.

It concluded that the centre appeared to be "trading well on most property market indicators" and was "retaining market share in most sectors against competing centres and retail parks".

The survey sought opinions from more than 1,000 households and included interviews with 200 town centre visitors.

Darlington's strengths were said to include its attractive environment, indoor market, Binns department store, the Cornmill Centre, bus services and growing investor confidence.

Weaknesses included the theatre, cinema and most restaurants being away from the main centre, too few larger shop units and a "poor perception" of parking charges.

Borough council development director John Buxton said he was hoping that the Commercial Street development, to include a major department store, would revitalise the area.

In a report to the town centre forum, he said: "The town centre continues to perform well and has good vitality and viability. However, it is beginning to fall behind nationally and is losing market share in most goods categories to out-of-centre shops and competing centres.

"The town centre is in need of investment, in particular to provide larger retail units attractive to national multiples, and the proposed Commercial Street development should help achieve this."