Concerns over progress of Scotch Corner Designer Village

Owners of the Scotch Corner Designer Village revealed in July this year that they had set an opening date of March 26, 2026, for the first phase of the project, including the first shops, and Blue Diamond home, lifestyle and garden centre.

Already, the project has been hit with several delays, which saw the retail and leisure destination initially scheduled to open in October 2023, before it was pushed back to September 2024, and then given the target date of March 2026. 

The retail development at Scotch Corner taken in February this year (Image: CHRIS BOOTH) Despite the masterplan being revealed by developers, the progress at the retail park, which will boast names including Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi’s, Calvin Klein, Adidas and Joules, has been criticised in recent months, with the public and councillors saying 'little to no work' has happened on the site. 

In images taken in February this year, the steel framework and cladding of the buildings can be seen on the Designer Village site - but seven months months later, criticisms about how much has happened on the development have come to the fore.

A mock-up of how the Scotch Corner Designer Village will look once built (Image: SCOTCH CORNER DESIGNER VILLAGE) One of those who has criticised the scheme and building progress is Councillor Angus Thompson, who covers the North Richmondshire division, which includes Scotch Corner. 

Alongside his main concerns, Cllr Thompson believes that the lack of progress is "worrying", while also highlighting his issues with the build-up of traffic, especially if progress on the A66 dualling scheme is delayed or abandoned. 

Work on the A66 had been expected to start in early 2025 on upgrading the notorious 50-mile stretch between Scotch Corner and Penrith to a full dual carriageway after the project was approved in March by the then Transport Secretary.

The steel frames on the site at Scotch Corner in February this year (Image: CHRIS BOOTH) But the whole £1.4bn scheme was called into question when Labour came to power after the Department for Transport (DfT) said an “internal review” of ongoing, scheduled and confirmed transport projects would be held.

Cllr Thompson now believes that the A66 dualling will be 'pivotal' in the opening of the Scotch Corner Designer Village, which was handed planning approval in 2014.

He said: "The fact that the A66 scheme has been called into question is worrying enough - but I believe this could be the make or break of the designer village.

Framework and cladding on some of the structure on the site in February this year (Image: CHRIS BOOTH) "Already, there are traffic issues on the A66 and the roundabout near where the Designer Village will be, and a reported 30 per cent increase in traffic on that stretch once the development is complete.

"The road can't cope as it is, let alone if the A66 doesn't go ahead."

The  North Richmondshire councillor also spoke about the ramifications if the developers didn't complete the Scotch Corner Designer Village, which he says will land North Yorkshire Council with a "big steel structure" with "little to no use to them".

He added: "We need this designer village to go ahead - but I can understand the concerns of people not seeing any work on the ground. 

"The site has been started but it doesn't look like it's been worked on for months".

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Alongside concerns raised by Cllr Thompson, Richmond and Northallerton MP Rishi Sunak has also raised issues with the traffic and urged for the A66 dualling to go ahead, which, he says, would alleviate traffic worries next to where the Scotch Corner Designer Village will be built.

He said: “I understand the concerns that residents have about the Scotch Corner junction and have been in contact with National Highways and the local authority about the problems there have been in the past.

The junction’s capacity is to be increased as part of the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine upgrade project and this is another reason why the scheme must proceed. I have recently written to the Transport Secretary about the importance of the upgrade project on safety and economic grounds."

While the concerns of the Scotch Corner Designer Village have been raised, the developers of the site have reassured that the opening date in March 2026 will go ahead, and have expressed their delight at welcoming shoppers to what they have described as "the number one outlet and leisure destination in the whole of the north of England".

A representative of the development said: “Scotch Corner Designer Village will be opening on March 26, 2026 and we are looking forward to welcoming guests from Richmondshire, Darlington, North Yorkshire and beyond.

"We are busy signing up excellent retailers and restaurateurs and are working on all aspects to make Scotch Corner Designer Village the leading destination in the whole of the north of England“