THE regeneration of the north west fringe of Darlington is continuing with plans for a new M&S Foodhall and an Aldi submitted to the council.

If approved, the plans would see the stores built on the West Park Village development on John Fowler Way, off the A68 West Auckland Road.

The Aldi application also covers the open space between the proposed store and John Fowler Way to include various planting and pedestrian and cycle links to the existing West Park Local Village Centre.

Both stores combined would create around 60 new jobs.

Planning agents, Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners, say that the M&S store would be an “integral part” of the council’s masterplan to build 1,200 new homes at West Park Garden Village, plus associated amenities.

Their report states: “Along with the new Aldi store, the proposed M&S Foodhall will complement the existing range of facilities at West Park Village Local Centre, which is currently limited to shops and services meeting only day to day needs.

“They will therefore help to better meet the convenience retail needs of existing local residents, as well as those of the new communities being created on the western side of Darlington.

“The new Foodhall will also enhance the accessibility and availability of food retail provision available in west Darlington more generally, where there are currently no facilities of any significant size.”

The report goes on to say that the M&S store represents a “significant investment” in the area that will boost local employment and the economy.

According to the applications, the stores will be well-served by buses as well as pedestrian and cycle links and will be accessed by a new road connecting with John Fowler Way.

The M&S Foodhall is intended to cover 1,487sqm, with an internal mezzanine, and offer 57 car parking spaces.

It is expected to create around 31 jobs.

The Aldi store would be 1,729sqm with 122 car parking spaces and would create around 30 new jobs.

Proposed opening hours for the Aldi store are 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 6pm on Sundays. The M&S Foodhall has applied for the same opening hours Monday to Saturday, but with reduced hours of 10am to 6pm on Sundays.

The plans should go before the council’s planning committee in the coming weeks.