SPACE Architects are delighted to announce that their designs for Darlington Railway Heritage visitor attraction have today (31 January 2022) received full planning approval and listed building consent.

This project for a new internationally significant major visitor attraction and museum will commence on site in the near future and is due to be completed in advance of September 2025 - the 200th anniversary of the first-ever passenger railway journey in history which took place on the Stockton & Darlington Railway. As well as re-purposing, remodelling and restoring several historic listed buildings to create a new visitor centre, exhibition gallery, education centre, archive and re-vitalised museum there will also be a new immersive ride experience, café and shop, themed play area and a new Live Engineering building.

David Coundon, Director at SPACE said:“We’re extremely excited to be working with the Tees Valley Combined Authority and Darlington Borough Council on the Darlington Railway Heritage Quarter. We have drawn on the inspiring story of invention, connectivity and transformation which epitomises the spirit of the area and we look forward to breaking ground as soon as possible to turn this vision into reality.

“The DRHQ will become a one-of-a-kind visitor attraction that tells the story of Darlington and of the communities that built it, shaping and transforming the world in the process”.

The project will be delivered in partnership with client and stakeholder groups which include:

• Darlington Borough Council
• Tees Valley Combined Authority
• Historic England
• Friends of Stockton and Darlington Railway
• A1 Steam Locomotive Trust
• Darlington Railway Preservation Society
• Network Rail