AN eyesore patch of wasteland will be transformed into a new town centre car park.

Plans to turn the unused land on Kingsway, Bishop Auckland, into a 72-space short stay car park, with improved pedestrian access to the main shopping area on Newgate Street, have been announced this week.

The Auckland Project and Durham County Council have teamed up to create the new car park, with work about to start in spring.

The derelict site has been acquired by The Auckland Project and the council will carry out the work then manage the car park after it opens to the public this autumn.

The Auckland Project is creating a visitor destination in Bishop Auckland, having so far opened a Mining Art Gallery and Auckland Tower in the Market Place.

Over the next three years, new attractions will be launched in the town including a Faith Museum, Spanish Gallery, Walled Garden and the re-opening of Auckland Castle.

It is estimated that by 2020 hundreds of thousands of people will be visiting to the town which is why the two organisations are working together to improve parking provision to support local retailers and ahead of the influx of tourists.

David Maddan, CEO of The Auckland Project said: “This new car parking facility is part of our ongoing commitment to revitalise the future of Bishop Auckland.

“We hope that offering shoppers a better way to park and access the town will assist economic regeneration. And we are pleased to be working in partnership with Durham County Council on this project, joining together with local organisations and businesses is the best way to make real change.”

In 2017, the council and The Auckland Project worked with more than 20 local businesses to help Bishop Auckland become the first town in the North-East to achieve WorldHost Recognised Destination status, a new benchmark for excellence in customer service.

Councillor Carl Marshall, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “This project will see the transformation of a piece of unused land into a car park providing dozens of extra spaces for shoppers visiting Bishop Auckland.

“We are pleased to be working with The Auckland Project on the initiative, which should provide a further boost to businesses in the town.”

For details on The Auckland Project's plans and progress visit aucklandproject.org/ or follow The Auckland Project on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.