Darlington station redevelopment: Council's compulsory purchase order approved

Darlington Borough Council is acquiring land around the Bank Top station so it can be upgraded.  

It means several properties, including Victorian inn Hogan's can be demolished. 

Plans for what the £100m revamp of the station could look like were revealed last year.

Councillor Heather Scott, leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: “What we have here is a once in a generation chance to redevelop our historic railway station to ensure it remains fit for purpose for many, many years.

Read more: Work on new Darlington railway station to begin next summer

“The decision to go ahead with compulsory purchase order proceedings, to enable this work to be carried out, is not one that was taken lightly, and appropriate steps are being taken to bring about a satisfactory conclusion for all concerned. I look forward to seeing the station development project continue to make great progress.”

The parcels of land which make up the CPO include 3,803sq metres of roads including Adelaide Street, St John’s Place, Neasham Road, Garbutt Square, Victoria Street, Princes Street and Albert Street, 5,601sq metres of Garbutt Square Car Park, the Grey Horse Inn, on St John’s Place, the East End Club and Institute, on Neasham Road and Hogans on Victoria Road.

The modernisation programme will see three new platforms, a new station building, parking and an interchange for passengers.

An upgrade to the Victoria Road entrance and car park, pick up and drop off points on the western side of the station is planned, alongside new road layouts, wider pavements and improvements to walking and cycling access to make the station easier to reach.

Permission for the eastern and western entrances of the station was granted last year.

The proposals have been backed by £25m of funding from the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority.

Read more: Consultation underway on £100m redevelopment of Darlington Station

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “This is a welcome result that will help kick-start the sorely needed £105million redevelopment to improve and futureproof Darlington station, providing faster, smoother and more reliable services to help people get around locally and nationally.

“2022 is our year of construction, and we’re going further faster to bring forward our transformational projects that will transform the lives of local people right across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.

"To truly capitalise on these – and the ever-growing Darlington Economic Campus – we need world-class transport links to get people to work, get businesses moving again and get more investment on our doorstep.

“While we are obviously conscious of the local residents and businesses that will be impacted, talks are ongoing with them all and we’re confident these will lead to an outcome which benefits everyone.

“Now there’s nothing stopping us getting spades in the ground for this project, which the people of the town, the wider region and its companies, have been crying out for and deserve.”

Demolition was sheduled to take place this spring, with construction due to start later in the summer.

Read more: Darlington Hogan's: ‘Demolishing Victorian inn will benefit heritage’

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