PLANS have been submitted to Darlington Borough Council to demolish part of a community music centre to rebuild improved facilities.

Demolition works would be of an existing outbuilding, kitchen and partial demolition of boundary wall, at The Forum, in Borough Road, Darlington.

It would make way for the erection of a two-storey extension on the west elevation to provide a recording studio with two car parking spaces below and including installation of external stairs, glazed balustrade, decked walkway, green roofs to new extension and part of existing roof.

Read more: Plans for glamping site near Darlington thrown out by council

There would also be a build of a single-storey kitchen extension to the east elevation and provision of a new timber framed glazed entrance to the north east elevation.

The Forum Music Centre is a well-loved venue and community asset close to Darlington centre.

Providing a range of services and being a popular venue for local and nationally recognised artists, The Forum is ready to expand its offer and role in the community, already established as a vibrant leisure destination.

The proposed scheme will involve the demolition of an underused outbuilding.

On the Borough Road frontage, the boundary wall is considered significant and whilst demolition is inevitable to support the proposed efficient use of the site, the replacement wall will be made of reclaimed brick from the site or to match, giving the impression of a contemporary extension behind the existing boundary.

The proposed development seeks to re-establish the previously granted planning permission for the recording studio and kitchen (both stalled through the pandemic) and also will create an exciting new public entrance on the corner of Borough Road and Brunswick Street.

The proposed development has been designed to complement the historic environment and be a contemporary intervention within the Parkgate Conservation Area.

Read next:

The scheme has been designed to incorporate materials with a low embodied energy and high levels of thermal efficiency.

Green roofs will form part of the surface water management strategy and provide an additional habitat.

This proposed development will secure the sustainable future of the Forum and complement the ambitious regeneration ambitions of Darlington Borough Council and partners.