Construction works have begun near Bishop Auckland West Railway Station, creating brand-new visitor parking facilities, improving access to the Durham Dales and Bishop Auckland via Weardale Heritage Railway, further supporting Bishop Auckland’s blossoming tourism industry.
The Durham Dales Gateway development will comprise 88 car parking spaces, six electric vehicle charging points, five new cycle racks and a brand-new ticketing system.
This infrastructure will enable Weardale Heritage Railway to accommodate increased visitor numbers and provide training, employment and learning opportunities, adding significantly to the local economy of both Bishop Auckland and the wider Weardale area.
Demolition of the site’s Escomb Road annex building was completed in June and works for the new development are expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The annex
has stood derelict for seven years, previously utilised for clinical use associated with Bishop Auckland Hospital.
The development has received £900k of funding from the Stronger Towns Fund and is just
one of a series of projects within Bishop Auckland which form part of the £53 million Levelling Up funding awarded to the town by HM Government.
Weardale Railway was purchased by The Auckland Project in March 2020, bringing it out of administration. Since then, a programme of inspections, network assessments,
maintenance and repairs to the infrastructure has been undertaken, along with improvements to the trains, to safely bring the heritage line back into operation while ensuring the preservation of its long-term future.
Edward Perry, Chief Executive Officer at The Auckland Project says: “We’re delighted that new life is being injected into this derelict space, with help
from the Stronger Towns Fund. The Weardale Railway heritage line into Bishop Auckland provides a huge opportunity for the cultural and economic regeneration of the town, enabling an important connection to everything the town, and the Dales, has to offer.
“We hope that this development will bring more visitors to the southern end of the high street and that people holidaying in the region will find Bishop
Auckland that much easier to access. All of which, of course, will benefit the local and regional economy.”
Several new developments are currently underway within Bishop Auckland, which are made possible by investment from Levelling Up funds, The Auckland Project,
Durham County Council and private developers. These include Kingsway Square, a vibrant new public space and car park off Newgate Street
with surrounding business and accommodation developments; and STACK, a mixed-use venue in the heart of the town centre.
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