Inspired Chocolate closes and criticises pavement seating plans

Inspired Chocolate left its Grange Road premises after objecting to Darlington Borough Council’s plans to install permanent pavement seating in Coniscliffe Road. 

Richard Warne said the redevelopment would severely disrupt businesses during construction between October 2024 and spring 2025. 

“As a business owner in Grange Road, we believe this will heavily impact Christmas and Easter trade,” a letter objecting to the plans read. 

Inspired Chocolate left its Grange Road premises (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

“I am sorry to say we have now given notice on our lease [and] will close our Darlington Grange Road shop.”

The proposed works are due to be considered by Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, August 7. 

Mr Warne now works out of Inspired Chocolate’s Leyburn premises in North Yorkshire and warned argued redeveloping other areas of Darlington should be prioritised.

“As both a business owner and resident, in my opinion this council is still not recognising nor doing what is required to rejuvenate Darlington Town Centre -  these important funds and the opportunity for real town centre rejuvenation are being wasted," he said.

“This ‘rejuvenation’ will do the opposite, costing money to maintain while delivering no benefit to the centre.”

Footfall will continue to drop, he added, and more shops will close or relocate. 

The business owner also criticised the plans to install planted and grass areas, saying the council cannot maintain grass verges.

He added: “I fail to see how it is in anyway appropriate to add even more grass/planting. I’d go as far as saying this is negligent. Inevitably, it will quickly become an unmaintained mess.”

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Darlington Borough Council said the work will provide some disruption to business operations and has purposely been planned to take place over the winter months to minimise disruption to anticipated trade on Coniscliffe Road. 

It added: “The intention is to keep Coniscliffe Road open for much of the proposed works with closures necessary in the new year to complete road surfacing and speed table installations.”

Planning officers added that the redevelopment is” driven by a need to support the local economy, addressing business needs whilst creating a more comprehensive pedestrian and cyclist environment”.