DEVELOPERS have submitted plans – including a food store and medical centre – as part of the second phase in the development of a village centre on the edge of Darlington.

Builder Bussey and Armstrong has lodged proposals with Darlington Borough Council for a 4.37 acre extension to the existing village centre at West Park.

The proposals are part of a long-term masterplan for West Park, which would ultimately include another 1,200 homes, schools, sports pitches and parkland.

Further planning applications for these developments are expected to be submitted next spring.

The application submitted to the council last week includes a 2,500sq m supermarket, medical centre, community hall and office space, as well as 156 parking spaces.

It would be built on John Fowler Way, adjacent to the existing Tillage Green village centre, which was completed in 2006.

A design and access statement, submitted by Bussey and Armstrong, said the objective of this development is to extend the existing village centre to form a focal point.

The application is only for outline planning permission at this stage, meaning the final design of the scheme is still to be finalised, but Bussey and Armstrong said it will be designed so as to make a positive contribution to the built environment.

The design and access statement added: "The scale of the proposed development has been designed to reflect the existing buildings around Tillage Green.

"It is suggested that it would be possible to create a visual feature on the junction of John Fowler way and West Auckland Road, by way of a glazed corner offering glimpses into the building, which would be internally lit to provide dramatic effect."

Bussey and Armstrong's design and access statement sets out the position with regard to other development factors, including flood risk, which is deemed to be low.

Noise impact, lighting

The existing West Park development extends to about 120 acres, including 60 acres of former farmland and 60 acres of the former Darlington Chemical and Insulating Company works.

Following the closure of the factory and its demolition in 1995, Bussey and Armstrong reclaimed the site for development.

In 2001, planning permission was granted for a mixed-use scheme including 700 homes, hospital and 33 acre park.

The hospital was completed and the first phase of housing occupied in 2004.

Building work on further homes is ongoing.