An ambitious scheme to transform Darlington railway station and the surrounding area is close to receiving government backing. A ‘positive’ meeting between Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and Transport Minister Jo Johnson took place earlier this week where proposals that include extending the station and creating platforms for local connections and future high-speed services were shared.

Darlington Borough Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority, both of whom are set to speak at our Tees Valley Development Plans Conference on the 16th May, launched the proposals last March and are now working to build support from key business leaders and stakeholders to support a bid for government funding.

It is hoped the regeneration of the station and the surrounding area, which Mr Houchen says has received support from Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, would be supported from the Government’s National Infrastructure Fund.

The Mayor added: ‘’The noises I’m hearing are extremely positive. I’m expecting some progress in the coming weeks and months to start to fund the project. It’s about me getting my skates on to see how quickly we can progress this project. The government are under no illusion now that this is our number one transport priority for funding. It plays a hugely important role for Northern Powerhouse rail or HS2, because they can’t realise the capacity of HS2 without doing improvements to Darlington station.’’

It is hoped the scheme will be completed by 2023 – which would fit in with Tees Valley’s bid to become the City of Culture 2025 and the bi-centennial of the Darlington – Stockton Railway.

We’re excited to hear more about the project at the Tees Valley Development Plans Conference in May and the opportunities for growth and development in the surrounding areas that it could bring. Join us there.