A NEW retail park with an Aldi, KFC and Iceland outlets could be built in Darlington within the next two years after councillors approved plans.

The eight-unit site is located on Albert Road, close to the North Road traffic junction near B&Q and Morrison’s.

As well as the three retailers with a confirmed interest, the site would house an additional five units which are expected to be occupied by coffee shop style outlets.

Darlington Council’s planning committee approved the plans today (Wednesday, October 22) although concerns were raised about the impact on the heritage of the area which is close to an historic railway bridge and the Head of Steam museum.

Further concerns were also raised about whether the development would take shoppers out of Darlington town centre, with the Cornmill Shopping Centre objecting to the scheme on the basis that it would.

Town centre trader and campaigner Beryl Hankin pleaded with councillors to reject the development, saying it would be “another nail in the coffin” for struggling town centre businesses.

However, Steve Morton, speaking on behalf of the developer, said that there was a deficit in the number of discount food stores in the northern area of Darlington.

He said that the Aldi on Yarm Road was currently over-trading at 150 per cent and the new store would provide residents of the North Road and Northgate area with a much-needed discount supermarket.

Mr Morton said: “In a way we are trying to re-establish the (North Road) high street which used to provide a diverse range of activity that it has not seen for many, many years.”

He added: “The North Road shopping centre is a small local shopping centre.

“It is difficult to understand how you think that a small local centre would have a damaging effect on Darlington town centre.”

Mr Morton also pointed out that the majority of shops in the Cornmill Centre were fashion-orientated and such retailers would not be interested in leaving the town centre to relocate to a small local site intended for discount food stores.

The developer has set 2017 as the target date for completion of the retail park.