West Park Levy

County Durham Foundation is helping create a long-term community fund in the West Park area of Darlington.

This innovative scheme has been developed between architects Bussey & Armstrong, Bellway Homes, Darlington Borough Council and County Durham Foundation.

The housing development, which is now well underway, covers 49 hectares of land between the Cockerton and Faverdale areas of Darlington. Half of this area was the site of a former Darlington Chemical works and asbestos-contaminated waste had been tipped in to a series of lagoons. Before work commenced, this area was Darlington's only significant remaining area of industrial dereliction.

Eventually there will be a total of 700 new homes built and the levy will generate £35,000 a year to support community and environmental initiatives in West Park.

Initial plans for the fund include providing Rangers for the parkland, enhancing 6.43 hectares of wildflower meadows, enhancing the wetland and woodland features of the park and helping Darlington Borough Council stage a series of events aimed at increasing the use of the park and raising awareness of countryside issues. Decisions on appropriate projects to support each year will be taken by a local committee including residents. A new hilltop parkland has already emerged on the site of the tip, sculptures have been erected and transport infrastructure has been installed.

Our Chief Executive Gillian Stacey explains why this project is so important:

“Many larger scale developments have struggled to create a community identity and engage residents. This approach will help to foster a real community spirit. We are delighted to be involved.”

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