PLANS to build a £20m sports village and create hundreds of jobs have taken a major step forward with funds of £500,000 being agreed.

The Tees Valley Combined Authority has pledged to plunge almost half a million pounds into developing proposals for the area around Darlington's Northern Echo Arena.

Darlington Borough Council and Darlington Mowden Park RFC are working together on the project for land next to the arena.

Darlington Sports Village would feature a leisure complex, sporting centre of excellence, retail area and village green, with housing also suggested as a way of boosting funding for the venture.

If eventually approved, the development would be built on the 23 acres of land belonging to the club and up to 42 acres of council-owned land on Neasham Road, with work anticipated to begin in 2019 and end by 2020.

The development would also form part of a wider plan that aims to attract high profile sport and music stars to the region.

The £450,000 funding from the TVCA will be added to £50,000 pledged by the council and is earmarked for detailed feasibility plans.

The proposals bear strong resemblance to those put forward in 2015 by RU Active Sports, a company headed by Dubai-based entrepreneur Richard Upshall.

Mr Upshall was working with a team including the current Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, on plans which were ultimately rejected by Darlington’s council.

At the time, the authority’s leader Cllr Bill Dixon said that the plans – which aimed to develop Blackwell Meadows rather than the arena – were not viable, “too good to be true” and could damage the town centre.

Mr Houchen, who heads TVCA and is no longer involved in the delivery of the project, said he was frustrated that the council had not seen the value of the proposals earlier but is relieved that plans were progressing.

He said: “Bill Dixon was not keen back then and I don’t see the difference between the original plans and the current proposal.

“Three years later, I’m just pleased that the council have started to realise the benefit of what this type of development can bring, and I’m pleased to be able to kick start it by committing funding to get it on its way.

“The original plans hinged on the council being responsive to the idea and I’m not sure what has changed but I’m glad we can now get on with it.

“This will be of huge benefit to not only Darlington but the Tees Valley, it will be a real focal point.

“We could have been at this point years ago but we are where we are – councils move in mysterious ways.”

Praising those now leading the project, he added: “This sports village could be transformational for Darlington and the wider area, creating state-of-the-art sports facilities and jobs for local people.”

The managing director of Darlington Mowden Park, Lee Rust, said fantastic progress was being made as he thanked club director Paul Mackings for playing an instrumental role in the process.

Mr Rust added: “There is an opportunity to build on progress made and to create something of real significance that will benefit both the town and wider region on multiple levels.

“We’re delighted to have received formal support from both Tees Valley Combined Authority and Darlington Borough Council.”

Cllr Bill Dixon said the sports village was an exciting development that would be an excellent addition to the Tees Valley’s sporting offer, adding: "This funding will enable us to seriously scope out what the sport village can be, moving from concept to full feasibility business case.”