Plans to build a recording studio in Darlington have been lodged with the council.

Proposals aim to expand The Forum Music Centre, adding a new public entrance, a kitchen, and a recording studio.

The plans hope to enhance the historic Parkgate Conservation Area, incorporating green roofs to manage surface water and create habitats for invertebrates.

The development is designed to respect the building’s heritage while contrasting the old structure with modern materials.

Proposals revive planning permissions previously granted for the kitchen and recording studio, which were delayed due to the pandemic.

A new entrance feature is planned, designed to replicate a historic shopfront at the corner of Borough Road and Brunswick Street.

The Forum, a landmark in the Parkgate Conservation Area, is considered to have architectural quality.

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(Image: Darlington Borough Council) Plans involve demolishing an outbuilding and boundary wall, which do not significantly contribute to the area’s character.

The recording studio is designed to be acoustically isolated, aiming to minimise noise impact on neighbours.

The kitchen is small-scale, and no significant noise issues are expected.

Two additional parking spaces will be added to the existing 14, and improved accessibility is a key feature, including an accessible lift to a mezzanine area.

Sustainable materials like recycled brick and timber frame construction will be used, and the new building aims to achieve an EPC (A) rating.

The proposed development includes demolishing an existing outbuilding, kitchen, and boundary wall, followed by the construction of a new kitchen, recording studio, and public entrance.

The project adds 140 sq. metres of internal space and will increase the number of parking spaces from 14 to 16.

Reclaimed brick, timber, and glass will be used for the new shopfront, with a green roof for the recording studio.

It is not in a flood-risk area and qualifies for a biodiversity net gain exemption due to its small scale and lack of existing habitats.