A NEW multi-storey car park will open in Darlington before Christmas, it was announced yesterday.

Work will begin next month on the £6.5m development in Crown Street, which will provide 410 car parking spaces - 160 more than at present.

The development will also include a 31,000sq ft TK Maxx store, selling discount designer wear.

Business leaders welcomed the news last night, saying the Cornmill Shopping Centre car park would provide a massive boost to the town's economy.

Alasdair MacConachie, chairman of Darlington Partnership, said the development would encourage shoppers to come to the town centre.

"It's superb news, particularly as we have pretty awful car parking problems now," he said.

"It's terrific for Darlington. I'm very anxious that people can park properly when they come to the town and the partnership has been pushing for that."

Peter Troy, chairman of the Darlington branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "Darlington is in need of more car parking spaces. Not only is there a shortage of spaces, the restrictions on parking times and the costs put people off coming into the centre of the town.

"With competition from out-of-town shopping, where it is always dead easy to park, it makes the need for adequate town centre parking even greater."

The development will be built by York-based Shepherd Construction, which will manage the project from its Darlington office.

Albion Small, president of Darlington Chamber of Trade and manager of the Cornmill Shopping Centre, said: "An investment of this value, with construction awarded to a local company, is excellent news for Darlington and its economy.

"The opening of TK Maxx will improve consumer choice and offer new employment opportunities for the residents of Darlington."

Tony Richmond, leader of Darlington's Conservative group, said: "We have been waiting for a multi-storey car park for quite some time so it's really good news. It will help the economy of the town centre and encourage people, particularly those who live outside Darlington, to come in."

A TK Maxx spokeswoman said it was too early to say how many jobs would be created at the store development, but said: "We are delighted to be coming to Darlington."

Crown Street car park will close at 6pm on Saturday, February 12, and reopen in December.