ONE of the most significant phases of a £60m community village taking shape on the edge of Darlington will be completed this month.

The first new parkland to be created in the town in more than a century is to be unveiled at West Park, in the Faverdale area.

The 35 acres will be an integral part of the creation of the West Park village.

Developers Bussey and Armstrong secured outline planning permission for the site in February 2002.

Since then, Darlington Borough councillors have approved a £20m mental health hospital, hundreds of homes, a new primary school and other amenities on the former Darlington Chemicals land.

But Tony Cooper, of Bussey and Armstrong, said the parkland's opening would be one of the most exciting developments yet.

A major community event to mark the occasion, with scores of schoolchildren from across the town, is being planned for Tuesday, June 21.

The park is adorned by several striking pieces of artwork, all relating to Darlington's industrial and environmental heritage.

Among them is an enclosure area, inspired by Roman times, which includes the slogans "This is Quakertown, where sharing took root" and "This is Locomotiontown, where the railways first ran".

Mr Cooper said: "Most of the stuff we have done has been because we wanted to do it, not because we were obligated to do it.

"We have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on artwork because we wanted to. This is the people's park.

"We have got our completion certificate from the Environment Agency, so anything to do with the chemical works is finished.

"They don't issue those certificates unless everything has been done perfectly to their standards."

About 130 homes have already been built at West Park, while the village centre is also taking shape.

The development will include a convenience store, likely to be the Co-op, and other shops.

A pub, which will be called The White Heifer That Travelled, is also planned, with magistrates expected to make a decision on its licence tomorrow.

West Park will be the new home of Mowden Park Rugby Club, which Mr Cooper said could have moved on to the site by the end of the year.

A doctors' surgery, children's nursery and village hall are also all in the pipeline.