Top architects in gateway project

Apr 16 2008 by Graeme King, The Journal

A HIGH-PROFILE firm of award- winning London architects has been appointed to design a new gateway to the Lingfield Point business park in Darlington.

A team from FAT will work on providing design input for an entrance to the 107-acre scheme from the new Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor.

The architects, who have also had input into the Riverside One site in Middlesbrough, will then move on to regenerating existing buildings including the powerhouse (the original boiler house and turbine hall from the Paton and Baldwins wool-manufacturing site) and new apartment and office buildings.

A planning application will be submitted in the next couple of months to complete the regeneration of the brownfield Lingfield Point site, which developer Marchday acquired 10 years ago.

John Orchard, director of Marchday, said: “I’m really excited to be working with FAT. They have a reputation for producing the unexpected. Their work is generally a combination of art and architecture and I hope we will soon be in a position to create landmark buildings for Darlington.

“The success of our existing business community has enabled us to look to the future. FAT join us at an exciting time as we are creating our 10-15 year vision for Lingfield Point.”

Sean Griffiths, director of FAT, added: “We are aware that Lingfield Point is an iconic development within Darlington and during its history has touched the lives of many local families. This is something we will take very seriously when looking at the new entrance features.”