Willmott Dixon has been identified to form a transformational regeneration consortium for Darlington town centre, strengthening the company's long-standing relationship with Darlington Borough Council.

The consortium, led by Cityheart and including Willmott Dixon alongside Space Architects, Identity Consult and others, will explore comprehensive long-term development plans for three strategically located town centre sites on East Street, Commercial Street and Kendrew Street.

Following a rigorous procurement selection process, the council will now engage with the consortium to identify development opportunities and agree a comprehensive long-term development approach. The outcome of this engagement will be presented to Cabinet early next year to inform further commitment.

The East Street site is strategically positioned next to the new Treasury offices within Darlington's Economic Campus, positioning the regeneration project to capitalise on the significant government investment in the town.

This partnership builds on Willmott Dixon's decade-long track record of supporting Darlington's transformation. The company is currently onsite delivering a major upgrade to Darlington Station including a 600-space multi-storey car park. Recent completions include the world-class Darlington Hopetown visitor attraction, the refurbished Hippodrome Theatre, and Innovation Central - specialist office and laboratory space for local SMEs.

Nick Corrigan, North East director at Willmott Dixon:

"We are proud of Willmott Dixon's contribution to the people of Darlington over the past decade and we're really excited to be part of an incredibly strong team, lead by Cityheart, who share a commitment to continuing to drive investment and creating opportunity for the people of Darlington.

"This partnership represents exactly the kind of town centre transformation project where our regeneration expertise can make a real difference. Having worked closely with Darlington Borough Council on multiple successful projects, we understand the town's potential and are committed to delivering development that truly benefits the local community."

Cllr Chris McEwan, cabinet member for economy at Darlington Borough Council:

"This is a huge step forward for our town in terms of regenerating areas which we know are ripe for development and improvement, and an exciting time for Darlington as a whole. Make no mistake, this has the potential to be one of the biggest and most exciting improvement projects our town centre has seen for many years."

James Litherland, of Cityheart:

"We are delighted to be working with Willmott Dixon who have a fantastic track record of delivery in Darlington town centre. Through their well-established local supply chain, they are able to maximise sub-regional investment and social value. We already have shared experience together in delivering the multi-award winning £110m Stockport Interchange which completed in 2024 and can’t wait to get cracking in Darlington.”

The project demonstrates Willmott Dixon's continued expertise in town centre regeneration and high street repurposing, transforming underutilised spaces into vibrant community and commercial assets.