IMPROVEMENTS to green spaces, the town centre and the demolition of buildings are some of the projects Darlington Council will spend its £1 million Towns Fund award on.

It was announced on Friday that Darlington has successfully been awarded £1 million to kickstart town centre revitalisation projects.

To respond to immediate challenges, proposals include improvement to new parks, green spaces and sustainable transport links and improvements to the town centre, including repurposing empty commercial properties.

Demolition or site remediation is also proposed, but only where this will have an immediate benefit.

The town also remains in the running for an additional £25 million grant.

Within the town centre, the council plans to undertake The Yards ‘Project Darling’ Phase 1 project, adjacent to and linking Skinnergate and the indoor market.

This will transform the yards, creating green space and breathe life into this historic area of the town centre.

A lighting project is also in the works for the outside of the market area, including lighting up the clock tower and other key features during dark winter months and throughout the year.

This project, due to its immediate impact, will be the first step in the works proposed to the indoor market, the yards and Skinnergate.

Town wifi will also be installed, attracting footfall and providing new opportunity for communications between business, community and visitors.

Properties in Northgate will also be secured, which will help to transform Darlington town centre and at the gateway to North Road.

Darlington MP Peter Gibson said: "“I am delighted to see the support coming from Government, which will help our town build on the plans we have to transform our town centre, and ready ourselves for 2025.

“I have everything crossed that we make it through the next stage, and are awarded £25 million pounds of extra investment, and I continue to press ministers at every opportunity.

“This fund will start to transform Darlington and I am delighted to be working alongside Darlington Borough Council to help make Darlington a better and brighter place to be, for residents, businesses and visitors."

The Autumn funding award comes as part of the effort to get the economy moving in the face of Covid-19, which has also seen other areas of the North-East benefit.

Investment in the BoHo district of Middlesbrough and the Coatham area of Redcar has also been announced.

Darlington was one of 100 places in England that the Government invited to develop proposals for a Town Deal.

This forms part of the Towns Fund, which is a £3.6 billion nation pot announced by the Prime Minister in July 2019, and the early allocation allows areas to drive growth in the face of Covid and further restrictions.