A MAJOR study detailing how to create and market Darlington as the "Gateway to the Tees Valley" has been unveiled.

The study, which focuses on the development of 75 acres of land near the East Coast railway line next to Haughton Road, and greenfield sites at Faverdale and west of the A66 trunk road at Darlington Great Park, are seen as essential to the economic future of the town.

At Tuesday's meeting of the council cabinet, members will be asked to authorise the preparation of funding bids to One North-East to develop the three sites over the next five to ten years.

Plans for the Haughton Road land include the provision of offices, residential and neighbourhood facilities, but the council would have to re-locate its depot together with some allotments.

Preparing the site for development is expected to take between three and five years.

Land at Faverdale is favoured for industrial development together with a small amount of retail and leisure outlets at a later date, while greenfield land between the Brick Train sculpture and Great Burdon could be transformed into a private sector business park.

Council leader, Coun John Williams, welcomed the plans. He said: "It is schemes like the Gateway project that will turn our ambition into a reality."