Pointing a way ahead

Apr 22 2008 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

THE award-winning architects behind Middlesbrough’s “community in a cube” development at Middlehaven have won the regeneration contract for Darlington’s Lingfield Point business park.

FAT’s design team will initially focus on the north-east corner of the estate, where developer Marchday is looking for an impressive new entrance from the Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor.

Existing landmark buildings, including the Powerhouse (the original boiler house and turbine hall from the Paton and Baldwins wool-manufacturing site), will be rejuvenated, to stand alongside what were described as “iconic” apartment and office buildings.

Eco-friendly, low-energy technology will be a significant feature.

FAT is the creative force behind unusual and innovative projects, including The Blue House in East London, Saint Lucas School in the Netherlands and Islington Square, a development of 24 houses in Manchester.

A planning application will be submitted in the next couple of months to complete the regeneration of the 107-acre brownfield site, which Marchday acquired ten years ago.

The objective is to create a mixed-use sustainable community, which will become a nationally-recognised flagship regeneration scheme.

John Orchard, director of Marchday, owner of Lingfield Point, said: “FAT have a reputation for producing the unexpected; their work is generally a combination of art and architecture and I hope that we will soon be in a position to create new landmark buildings for Darlington.

“Local people have helped shape our proposals over the last year and in addition to exciting buildings we hope to be announcing some exciting art projects over the next six months or so.”