THOUSANDS of pounds are due to be spent on encouraging an estate's residents to live more healthy lives.
Darlington Borough Council and a series of partners have applied to the New Opportunities Fund for £558,000 to set up the Firthmoor to Health scheme.
The scheme aims to set up a healthy living centre on the Firthmoor estate, which would be used for community activities and to encourage residents to get involved in health projects.
The money would also be used to employ someone for five years to promote health in the area.
Richard Horniman, of Darlington council, said: "The New Opportunities Fund has made money available for the development of healthy living centres, which are expected to provide a range of different services linked together to improve the well-being of local communities."
There are also plans to use single regeneration budget money and money from other bids to fund more health activities and initiatives as part of the Firthmoor scheme.
It is estimated that the new health centre will cost £287,000, with £271,000 put aside from the New Opportunities Fund bid to employ the health worker.
The bid has already passed on to the second stage and a detailed business plan is being created to back the proposals.
It is due to be decided next year.
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