WORK to create a world class tourist attraction celebrating rail heritage ahead of the 200th anniversary of the first public steam locomotive line will be a game-changer for Darlington, councillors have claimed.

A target has been set to draw an extra 205,000 visitors annually to the town, to make its 19th century Stockton & Darlington Railway features among Britain’s top 100 attractions.

The authority’s leisure boss, Councillor Nick Wallis, said initiatives ahead of the anniversary would be “transformative” for Darlington, and in particular the North Road area, making the town “a must-see destination” for visitors from around the world.

Darlington Borough Council members heard a board – which also included Durham and Stockton councils – overseeing preparations for the 2025 milestone had also agreed Darlington should stage the key anniversary event.

Councillors were told a range of initiatives were on course to cement a lasting legacy by strengthening the town’s cultural offer and provide a distinctive experience for visitors from around the world.

A meeting of the authority’s place scrutiny committee heard plans were in place to regenerate North Road as a “heritage quarter with a re-imagined visitor experience”, improve transport connections and networks, and capitalise on shopping, culture, leisure, tourism and employment opportunities.

Key schemes set to be launched in the coming year include a feasibility study to enhance “probably the most significant building Darlington has in the railway story” – Pease’s House, in Horsemarket – which had “become a bit of an embarrassment”, members were told.

Ideas include bringing the building, where George Stephenson sealed the railway’s contract but now houses takeaways, into public use and using it to connect the town centre and the North Road heritage quarter.

Cllr Wallis, pictured right, added: “It has been a question of looking at just how ambitious we can be. We now have a huge amount to do in not a lot of time, but all the pieces are in place with all the partners to realise the dream. A lot of money needs to be won to deliver ambitions, but I am confident we can do that.

“North Road is entirely the right place to have the big set-piece event for the anniversary. It is not going to take place on a single day. It will take place over weeks, if not months.”

After a detailed briefing from officers, the committee’s chairman, Councillor Bob Carson, said he felt the authority was “making as good progress as it possibly could” on maximising benefits from railway heritage.

He said: “What we are talking about is a very ambitious programme for 2025. It isn’t just the museum or the town centre. it’s the whole heritage idea. Railway heritage is something people from around the world are interested in. I hope it will bring visitors from not only England, but overseas as well.”