Station gateway MSCP, Darlington

We are working with the Tees Valley Combined Authority to transform the entrance to Darlington Station as part of Network Rail's £140m masterplan to provide extra train capacity and better passenger facilities at the station.

This also includes a new 600 place multi-storey car park integrated within the bigger entrance area that is the station’s gateway to the town. Network Rail is also at the same time creating two new platforms to improve rail connections both within the Tees Valley and beyond via the East Coast Main Line.

Tees Valley Combined Authority is a partnership of five authorities; Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees. It is undertaking the redevelopment in collaboration with the Darlington Borough Council, Network Rail, and London North Eastern Railway (LNER).

Tees Valley Mayor Mayor Houchen said:

“With hundreds of Government jobs coming to Darlington, the town and its people deserve a modern and vibrant station to provide a gateway to the rest of the great developments on their way. This is another significant milestone and I’m thrilled the station project is steaming ahead.”

The station overhaul will be completed in 2025 in time for the Stockton and Darlington Railway bicentennial celebrations. Cllr Stephen Harker, Leader of Darlington Borough Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority Cabinet Member, said:

“I am delighted that work is progressing on this project to transform the station to improve access to Darlington for business and leisure travellers. It will also create much better access into the wider Tees Valley. Upgrading the station will allow us to continue attracting investment to Darlington.”

Willmott Dixon is behind several major infrastructure developments, including the Stockport Interchange, Halifax bus station and North Tyneside Transport Interchange.

Nick Corrigan, North East director for Willmott Dixon, said:

“We’re proud to say that, as well as creating a vibrant and transformative new gateway into Darlington, the station development really will be changing lives and creating opportunities for local people. In addition to new local jobs, apprenticeships and training weeks, in partnership with Tees Valley Combined Authority, we are creating employment opportunities for local people facing barriers to work through our dedicated Building Lives Academy programme.

“We will be working with the likes of Darlington Borough Council’s Youth Employment Initiative and Aycliffe Secure Centre, to deliver Building Lives Academies for local young people who are not in education, employment or training. This is a project for the people of Darlington, built by the people of Darlington and we’re committed to spending £12m with local supply chain businesses.”

This is the latest project for Willmott Dixon in Darlington. The company is currently transforming the Darlington Railway museum into a cutting-edge tourist attraction. Previously, it refurbished the Hippodrome Theatre in Darlington into a modern entertainment venue hosting some of the UK’s best acts and in 2022, built Innovation Central, a specialist office and laboratory space for Darlington’s SMEs.