DARLINGTON'S cash-strapped council has agreed to pay the £30,000 needed to complete the expansion of a car park at the future home of Darlington FC and Darlington Rugby Football Club.

A report presented to the council’s cabinet said the cost of the car park at Blackwell Meadows Community Sports Hub has risen from £140,000 to £175,000 due to “ecological mitigation and ground conditions.”

Sport England agreed to increase their grant for the project from £5,000 to £75,000, but there is still a £30,000 black hole - which the council has agreed to fill.

The council also proposed a repayment mechanism which will see the site leased back to DRFC, and the money repaid to the council over ten years.

The report said the recommendations will “enable the public of Darlington to continue to access the leisure facilities offered by DRFC through the Community Sports Hub” and “assist in the increase in sport participation numbers within the Borough.”

It said the decision would assist in the relocation of Darlington Football Club and maximise the economic benefits of hosting home match days within the Borough.

Councillor Cyndi Hughes said the move was a positive step in encouraging young people to participate in sports across the Borough and would improve community cohesion.

Concerns were expressed during the meeting that the expansion of the sports hub would lead to increased parking on Croft Road, particularly during match days.

Cllr Nick Wallis said he was aware of the sensitivity of the site and said a travel survey would be conducted to find out how people who travel to matches from outside the Borough plan to arrive at the site.

The site will be the home of both Darlington Football Club and Darlington Rugby Football Club (DRFC) following a groundshare agreement between the two parties.

A spokesperson for the club said: “This will trigger the return of the football club to its home at Darlington within Blackwell Meadows."

Club director John Tempest said he hoped the club would be back in the town by October.

Darlington, which will play in the Vanarama National League North next season, have been playing at Bishop Auckland’s Heritage Park for the past four years.