PLANS to build a £20m sports village could enable a sporting arena to have a "long term sustainable future" and attract additional facilities to a town, it has been claimed.

Darlington Borough Council and Darlington Mowden Park RFC, with support from the Tees Valley Combined Authority, are working on plans for a Darlington Sports Village, which would feature a leisure complex, sporting centre of excellence, retail area and village green.

A hotel operator, garage and several sports clubs have already expressed an interest in occupying a part of the site, and business planning and technical assessments are underway.

It is expected that a planning submission for the site will be made later this year.

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.

The development, which could create hundreds of jobs, would also form part of a wider plan that aims to attract high profile sport and music stars to the region.

Documents, which will be discussed by Darlington Borough Council's cabinet members next week, states: "In essence the proposal is to create a multi-user communal sports village (DSV) that will have an improved arena as a centrepiece asset with artificial pitches and reconfigured concourse for events, together with a centre of excellence for sports development and additional sports and leisure uses, accompanied by on site hotel, petrol garage station, and some food convenience.

"The proposal, while it has significant risks, has real merit and holds out the possibility of enabling the arena to have a long term sustainable future and attract additional facilities for sport and leisure serving Darlington and the surrounding areas.

"Good progress has been made by Darlington Mowden Park in eliciting interest from end users.

"A hotel operator, garage and several sports clubs have signalled intend to commit to locate at DSV."

Last year, Darlington Football Club described plans to build the sports village at its former home as an "exciting opportunity", but warned there were several "technical challenges" to overcome before any decision over a return is made.

David Johnston, chief executive of the Quakers, also said any decision must be supported by the club's fans.