Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director, Economy and Public Protection.

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

The report provides justification for adopting the finalised appraisal for the Stockton & Darlington Railway: Northgate Conservation Area. The draft version of the appraisal (September 2024) had been subject to a six-week public consultation period. Amendments have been made in light of the comments received.

Members in attendance congratulated both the Portfolio Holder for Economy and the Executive Director, Economy and Public Protection, for producing a fantastic and interesting report, and posed some technical questions.

RESOLVED - That:

(a)    Council adopts the finalised appraisal for the Stockton & Darlington Railway: Northgate Conservation Area.

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

(c)    Council adopts the name change from Northgate Conservation Area to Stockton & Darlington Railway: Northgate Conservation Area.

(d)   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 –

(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.