Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director, Economy and Public Protection

The Cabinet Member with the Economy Portfolio introduced the report (previously circulated) of the Executive Director of Economy and Public Protection, which sought approval to adopt the finalised Stockton & Darlington Railway: Northgate Conservation Area Appraisal, including changes to its boundary and name. It was reported that the document that has been submitted is called ‘Stockton & Darlington Railway: Northgate Conservation Area Appraisal. Finalised document. March 2025’.

The submitted report provided justification for adopting the finalised appraisal for the Stockton & Darlington Railway: Northgate Conservation Area. Members were advised that the draft version of the appraisal (September 2024) had been subject to a six-week public consultation period, and that amendments had been made in light of the comments received.

It was reported that by adopting the finalised appraisal, a new, much larger Conservation Area boundary would be designated by the Council, and that the conservation area name would officially be changed from Northgate Conservation Area to Stockton & Darlington Railway: Northgate Conservation Area.

Reference was made to the appreciation of our heritage value and whether the Council had the capability and capacity to respond.

RESOLVED - (a) That Cabinet recommends that the Council adopts the finalised appraisal for the Stockton & Darlington Railway: Northgate Conservation Area.

(b) That Cabinet recommends that the Council adopts the finalised boundary for the Stockton & Darlington Railway: Northgate Conservation Area (see chapter 6.0 of the appraisal).

(c) That Cabinet recommends to Council the adoption of the name change from Northgate Conservation Area to Stockton & Darlington Railway: Northgate Conservation Area.

(d) That Cabinet recommends that Council authorises the amendment of finalised Stockton & Darlington Railway: Northgate Conservation Area Appraisal with regards to the text marked in yellow, to reflect the adopted status of the document.  The adopted appraisal will be named: Stockton & Darlington Railway: Northgate Conservation Area Appraisal. Adopted document. March 2025.

REASONS - The recommendations are supported by the following reasons:

(a)    The Northgate Conservation Area is a designated heritage asset of international significance due to its structures and associations directly linked to the birth/early years of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) of 1825.  Despite its high importance, it has been on the national Heritage at Risk Register since 2010.

(b)   The bicentennial of the S&DR is in September this year.  The Council has been making significant investments in preparation for the celebrations inside the Conservation Area (e.g. Hopetown Darlington, Edward Pease house).

(c)    The current Northgate Conservation Area appraisal was adopted in January 2007 and is now deemed inadequate and out of date.  The present Conservation Area boundary dates from 2003.

(d)   The new appraisal picks up some of the ‘unfinished’ work carried out by Durham County Council (2022) and Land Use Consultants (2021).  It provides a detailed record and analysis of the existing Conservation Area, as well as proposals for boundary changes and name change, and suggestions for improvements so that the Conservation Area may eventually be removed from the Heritage at Risk register.

(e)   The responses on the draft document were generally very supportive of the appraisal and its proposals, including the feedback received from Historic England and the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.

(f)     Once the new appraisal has been adopted it will provide an evidence base for managing change in the area and form a material consideration in the Planning process, replacing the 2007 document.

(g)    It will also assist if funding is sought for larger regeneration schemes within the amended boundary.  Historic England confirmed that they will not provide funding for improvement works within the Conservation Area until the new appraisal, including boundary changes and name change, has been adopted.