The price that the Tees Valley Combined Authority and Darlington Borough Council paid for properties to make way for the Darlington Station project has been revealed.
An FOI submitted to the Tees Valley Combined Authority shows that both local authorities have shelled out £4.4m to buy up land that will be made into the new transport hub.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has insisted that buying the patches of land was "vital" to delivering the project.
Read more: How Darlington railway station will look after work is complete
Within the figures, the FOI showed that the former Hogans pub, which will become a more open patch of land to the entrance of Darlington Station, cost £645,000, while the East End Club cost £170,000.
Elsewhere, Pro Fix Steel Fabrication set the councils back £364,000, and three properties on Victoria Road and Pensbury Street, cost £385,000.
Here's the full list of property costs and when they were bought:
- Railway Housing - £284,000 - 11/21
- East End Club - £170,000 - 31/01/20
- Exhaust a Fix - £532,500 - 05/04/21
- Pro Fix - £364,000 - 05/04/21
- Dewton United car park - £1,375,000 - 24/06/22
- Entec Design - £167,000 - 24/06/22
- Grey Horse Inn & Pizza Station - £255,000 - 30/07/21
- 14 Neasham Rd - £80,000 - 23/04/21
- 16 Neasham Rd £155,000 26/08/21
- 97 Pensbury St, 137 Victoria Rd, 139 Victoria Rd - £385,000 - 31/01/20
- Hogans Public House - £645,000 - 15/01/21
This FOI data comes weeks after the first computer-generated images of Darlington Darlington Station were revealed.
Within the images, the multi-million-pound overhaul will include two new platforms on the Eastern side of the station, and a new car park, when complete in 2025.
The station redevelopment includes a multi-storey car park, transport interchange and gateway entrance connected to Central Park
Once finished, there will be secure parking for more than 600 cars with disabled bays and electric car charging points available.
Responding to the reveal of the property prices, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has spoken about the positives that the £139m Darlington transport hub will bring.
He said: “Darlington is our biggest station and its importance when attracting new businesses and Government departments such as the Treasury to our area - and helping existing ones to grow - cannot be overstated.
“Due to the nature and location of the site - and that of the planned development - it was vital that land and buildings surrounding the station were acquired to ensure the project is successfully delivered.
“The public can already see how the site is being transformed into a station that will be finally fit for purpose as an essential gateway for Tees Valley that will supercharge our economy and provide a much better deal for passengers.”
Darlington Borough Council have clarified that the properties listed have been acquired by Darlington Borough Council and TVCA jointly for the Darlington Railway Station Improvement Scheme, the acquisitions were funded by TVCA but managed and negotiated by themselves.
A spokesperson for the borough council added: "The acquisitions were by agreement with owners in advance of a Compulsory Purchase Order but with compensation for value and disturbance paid in line with the compensation code as required by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Governments statutory guidance."
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