AN ambitious scheme to transform Darlington railway station and the surrounding area is close to receiving government backing, it has been claimed.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said he held a “really productive” meeting with transport minister Jo Johnson on Tuesday where he set out proposals that include extending the station and creating platforms for local connections and future high-speed services.

Launching the proposals last March, Darlington Borough Council and the Tees Valley Combined Authority called on an audience of business leaders and key stakeholders to support a bid for government funding for the revamp.

The council and combined authority said they hoped the regeneration of the station and the surrounding area would be supported from the Government’s national infrastructure fund.

Mr Houchen said the scheme had received support from Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and that he was working towards securing funding for the first phase of the project.

He added: “The noises I am hearing are extremely positive. I am expecting some progress in the coming weeks and months to start to fund the project. It’s about me getting my skates on to see how quickly we can progress this project.

“The government are under no illusion now that this is our no 1 transport priority for funding. It plays a hugely important role for Northern Powerhouse rail or HS3, because they can’t realise the capacity of HS3 without doing the improvements to Darlington station.”

It is hoped the scheme will be completed by 2023 to fit in with Tees Valley’s bid to become the City of Culture 2025 and the bi-centennial of the Darlington-Stockton Railway.

Mr Houchen said the government was beginning to understand the urgency of the scheme and a further meeting to discuss financing the project would be held at the Department for Transport on Monday.

After being told about Mr Houchen’s optimism about winning funding, Darlington Borough Council’s leader Councillor Bill Dixon said the government had yet to provide the money.

He added: “It is a very sound business case and is a project that needs to happen.”