West Park, Darlington
Encyclopedia
West Park is a predominantly residential area at the North West fringe of Darlington
, County Durham
, England
.
West Park is designed as a sustainable community development, consisting of residential properties, commercial properties, and a nature reserve. It is one of the most recent developments in Darlington, having commenced in 2002.
The site covers 49 hectares (121 acres) of land, consisting of:
The West Park development has won several national awards, including a Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Sustainable Communities Award, and a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Gold Award For Regeneration.
Two housebuilders have been involved in designing and constructing the properties: Bussey & Armstrong, and Bellway; although Bussey & Armstrong are the primary developer, and are responsible for the concept and overall development. Some of the architecture is designed to reflect the traditional Darlington architectural styles. For example, Bussey & Armstrong made use of Arts and Crafts Movement
architecture, popular at the time of the Quakers who influenced Darlington's development.
The residential area is roughly bisected by the West Park Nature Reserve, which consequently divides West Park into two residential sites: West Park A and West Park B. Within the West Park development, there is no road link between sites A and B. They are linked by a footpath through West Park Nature Reserve. The earlier site West Park A is located at the south-east edge of the Nature Reserve, and has street names based upon the railway pioneering Pease family (Darlington)
. The later site West Park B is located at the north-west edge of the Nature Reserve, and has street names based upon Darlington's agricultural heritage.
The Tillage Green commercial properties, and the apartments above it, were built by the Bussey & Armstrong development company. Adjacent to Tillage Green is the newly built Alderman Leach Primary School. This is a £3 million re-build of an existing school, originally located just south of West Park, off Bates Avenue near Cockerton.
butterfly, and Ringed plover
.
There is a mix of different planting areas in the nature reserve:
The artwork was commissioned in parallel with poetry and verse, based on Darlington's agricultural and industrial heritage. This verse appears on some of the artwork throughout the park. The agriculturally-based and railway-based street names used in West Park Village are also linked to the verse, being created by the same poet (W.N. Herbert) as part of the West Park development plan.
For example, at the centre of the nature reserve is a steel circle known as Amphitheatre. Within the circle is a cast contour map of the park, indicating directions to local landmarks. The steel circle has the following verse stencilled in:
"this is Locomotiontown, where the railways first ran
this is Quakertown, where sharing took root
this is the Darlingtown, that wears its heart within its name"
The levy is not collected by Darlington Borough Council, but instead by an independent charitable organisation County Durham Foundation. The charity maintains the levy within a fund.
Spending of the fund is determined entirely by a local steering group, who include nominated West Park residents. Residents are elected to the steering group from the Friends Of West Park residents' group.
The Friends, with the backing of Council resources such as the Ranger service, organise events to take place on the nature reserve. These are open to all, but especially aimed at residents of West Park. Annual events include an Easter Egg hunt, a Halloween walk, and a summer Activity Day.
, and west of Faverdale
. It is approximately 2.5 miles by road from the town centre.
As part of its status as a redevelopment project, West Park is built both on former greenfield land
and brownfield land
. Approximately half of the 49 hectares is developed on the former Darlington Chemical and Insulating ("Darchem") factory site, with the other half being farmland. The former Darchem site is now occupied by West Park A and the West Park Nature Reserve: the contaminated material has been removed from the site, with the exception of some low-level contamination which is successfully contained under a clay cap below the Nature Reserve.
The local council ward is Faverdale, and is currently represented by councillor Richard Grundy (Con). The previous councillor was Barrie Armstrong (Con).
In terms of demographic, the ACORN (demographics)
classification is type 25, suggesting white collar singles or sharers.
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
West Park is designed as a sustainable community development, consisting of residential properties, commercial properties, and a nature reserve. It is one of the most recent developments in Darlington, having commenced in 2002.
The site covers 49 hectares (121 acres) of land, consisting of:
- 37 hectare West Park Village: at least 700 residential properties, a mix of commercial properties, and other facilities.
- 12 hectare West Park Nature Reserve: The first new park to be created in Darlington in the last 100 years.
The West Park development has won several national awards, including a Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Sustainable Communities Award, and a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Gold Award For Regeneration.
West Park Village
West Park Village consists of a small retail and commerce centre, with residential properties surrounding it.Residential
The residential area of West Park is built around the edges of the West Park Nature Reserve. Initially, 700 properties were built, with a mixture of houses (3-5 bedrooms) and apartments (2 bedrooms). Most properties are terraced or semi-detached houses. Streets are characterised by short front gardens with green iron railings; and mixed, predominantly red or buff brickwork houses. All houses have at least 1 parking space and 1 garage: these are located together on the house plot, or at a shared garage area.Two housebuilders have been involved in designing and constructing the properties: Bussey & Armstrong, and Bellway; although Bussey & Armstrong are the primary developer, and are responsible for the concept and overall development. Some of the architecture is designed to reflect the traditional Darlington architectural styles. For example, Bussey & Armstrong made use of Arts and Crafts Movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
architecture, popular at the time of the Quakers who influenced Darlington's development.
The residential area is roughly bisected by the West Park Nature Reserve, which consequently divides West Park into two residential sites: West Park A and West Park B. Within the West Park development, there is no road link between sites A and B. They are linked by a footpath through West Park Nature Reserve. The earlier site West Park A is located at the south-east edge of the Nature Reserve, and has street names based upon the railway pioneering Pease family (Darlington)
Pease family (Darlington)
The Pease family was a prominent English and mostly Quaker family associated with Darlington and County Durham and descended from Joseph Pease of Darlington, son of Edward Pease . They were 'one of the great Quaker industrialist families of the nineteenth century, who played a leading role in...
. The later site West Park B is located at the north-west edge of the Nature Reserve, and has street names based upon Darlington's agricultural heritage.
Commercial and retail
Tillage Green is a square at the centre of West Park Village, around which are:- Cooperative storeThe Co-operative FoodThe Co-operative Food, abbreviated sometimes to the Co-op, is a brand devised for the supermarket and convenience store business of the UK's consumers' co-operative movement. It is the name of the largest division of The Co-operative Group, and is used by other independent consumer co-operatives...
. Food and general supplies, open every day from 8am to 10pm (except Christmas Day) - West Park Cafe, a bistro serving food and drinks.
- A pub, "The White Heifer That Travelled"
- A chemist.
- A hairdressing salon.
- A dental surgery.
The Tillage Green commercial properties, and the apartments above it, were built by the Bussey & Armstrong development company. Adjacent to Tillage Green is the newly built Alderman Leach Primary School. This is a £3 million re-build of an existing school, originally located just south of West Park, off Bates Avenue near Cockerton.
West Park Nature Reserve
West Park Nature Reserve is one of 20 parks in Darlington. 8 of the parks, including West Park, are classed as "Local Nature Reserves", with a focus on providing a habitat for wildlife. The nature reserve is built in the form of an artificial hill, with paths leading through mixed woodland and grassland, up to an elevated point at the centre of the hill.Flora and fauna
The wildlife includes some rare species such as Water vole, Dingy SkipperDingy Skipper
The Dingy Skipper, Erynnis tages, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It ranges from Europe across Asia Minor and Central Asia to the Amur region.Erynnis tages favours open grassy habitats up to 2,000 metres above sea level...
butterfly, and Ringed plover
Ringed Plover
The Common Ringed Plover or Ringed Plover is a small plover.Adults are 17-19.5 cm in length with a 35–41 cm wingspan. They have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband. They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes...
.
There is a mix of different planting areas in the nature reserve:
- Wildflower meadows (over 6 hectares, i.e. approximately 50%)
- Wetland
- Woodland
Artwork
There are several pieces of art within the nature reserve. These include stone sculptures, Corten steel sculptures, and bridges. The artist is scupltor David Paton.The artwork was commissioned in parallel with poetry and verse, based on Darlington's agricultural and industrial heritage. This verse appears on some of the artwork throughout the park. The agriculturally-based and railway-based street names used in West Park Village are also linked to the verse, being created by the same poet (W.N. Herbert) as part of the West Park development plan.
For example, at the centre of the nature reserve is a steel circle known as Amphitheatre. Within the circle is a cast contour map of the park, indicating directions to local landmarks. The steel circle has the following verse stencilled in:
"this is Locomotiontown, where the railways first ran
this is Quakertown, where sharing took root
this is the Darlingtown, that wears its heart within its name"
West Park levy
All properties within West Park Village pay a yearly levy. This funds further developments within the nature reserve, at a level above that which the Council contributes to other similarly sized parks. The 700 households currently each pay £50 per year, with any yearly increase limited to being index linked. Commitment to pay the levy is written into the deeds of all West Park properties.The levy is not collected by Darlington Borough Council, but instead by an independent charitable organisation County Durham Foundation. The charity maintains the levy within a fund.
Spending of the fund is determined entirely by a local steering group, who include nominated West Park residents. Residents are elected to the steering group from the Friends Of West Park residents' group.
Friends group
Community involvement between West Park residents and the West Park Nature Reserve is achieved through the Friends Of West Park residents' group. Any West Park resident is entitled to join the Friends group.The Friends, with the backing of Council resources such as the Ranger service, organise events to take place on the nature reserve. These are open to all, but especially aimed at residents of West Park. Annual events include an Easter Egg hunt, a Halloween walk, and a summer Activity Day.
Location and demographic
West Park is located adjacent to the A68 and A1(M) junction 58, directly north of CockertonCockerton
Cockerton is a suburb of Darlington, a town in County Durham, England. It is situated immediately to the north-west of Darlington town centre, close to Mowden, Branksome, West Park and Faverdale...
, and west of Faverdale
Faverdale
Faverdale is a suburb of Darlington in County Durham, England. It is situated directly to the north west of Darlington, adjacent to Cockerton. It is the site of a small industrial estate although in the late 1990s and 2000s a number of modern housing developments were added to the area. This area...
. It is approximately 2.5 miles by road from the town centre.
As part of its status as a redevelopment project, West Park is built both on former greenfield land
Greenfield land
Greenfield land is a term used to describe undeveloped land in a city or rural area either used for agriculture, landscape design, or left to naturally evolve...
and brownfield land
Brownfield land
Brownfield sites are abandoned or underused industrial and commercial facilities available for re-use. Expansion or redevelopment of such a facility may be complicated by real or perceived environmental contaminations. Cf. Waste...
. Approximately half of the 49 hectares is developed on the former Darlington Chemical and Insulating ("Darchem") factory site, with the other half being farmland. The former Darchem site is now occupied by West Park A and the West Park Nature Reserve: the contaminated material has been removed from the site, with the exception of some low-level contamination which is successfully contained under a clay cap below the Nature Reserve.
The local council ward is Faverdale, and is currently represented by councillor Richard Grundy (Con). The previous councillor was Barrie Armstrong (Con).
In terms of demographic, the ACORN (demographics)
ACORN (demographics)
ACORN is a geodemographic information system categorising all United Kingdom postcodes into various types based upon census data and other information such as lifestyle surveys....
classification is type 25, suggesting white collar singles or sharers.