Delay to Darlington nightclubs Aruba and Route 66 demolition

Darlington Borough Council produced plans to flatten the former Aruba and Route 66 venues on King Street last September, to make way for new development. 

The buildings, which have been empty for several years, still have the old signage intact and are a lasting memory of two of the town’s former nightlife hotspots. 

Council officials priced the initial cost of the demolition works at £220,000 when the plans were first drawn up last year but now face paying up to £70,000 more to complete the works. 

The latest report from the local authority, which details the redevelopment works throughout the borough, says the site’s redevelopment has been delayed. “Structural investigations and party wall works are still ongoing due to some complex issues,” it added. 

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The buildings, which have been empty for several years, still have the old signage intact and are a lasting memory of two of the town’s former nightlife hotspots. (Image: The Northern Echo)

Demolition of the two buildings cannot commence until a Bat License, which is required before work is carried out, has been issued. 

The council says the work is due to start in late 2023. 

Elsewhere in the town centre, work is continuing at the site of the former Sports Direct warehouse behind Crown Street Library. The site has previously been identified as one where new office space could be built to cope with the rising demand in the town centre, with the next stage of redevelopment works due to start soon.