£30m leisure project almost fully let
A series of lettings to the likes of VUE Cinemas, Premier Inn Hotels, Nando's and Bella Italia mean a £30m leisure scheme in the centre of Darlington is now 95% full.
The Feethams development extends to more than 100,000 sq ft and is due to complete in March 2016.
A host of tenants, including Greene King, The Chinese Buffet, Prezzo and Purple Pig, have been signed up by WSB Property Consultants LLP and JLL on behalf of developer Urban & Civic.
VUE Cinemas is opening a nine-screen venue making it the town's first multiplex cinema, while Premier Inn is opening an 80-bed hotel which will be complimented by a number of national and regional restaurants.
Adam Mobley, WSB equity partner, said: "There has been much speculation over the years regarding leisure development proposals in the town and it is now fantastic to finally see this scheme out of the ground and some great operators coming to Darlington.
"We now have one restaurant unit and one coffee shop unit remaining to let which reflects the pent up demand from operators for the right scheme in Darlington."
The former bus station site was given the go-ahead by the local planning authority in late 2013 following the appointment of Urban & Civic.
Simon Hawkins, development director at Urban & Civic, said: "Work on this major leisure development is well on track and we are looking to handover units to the tenants in November 2015, ready for an Easter 2016 opening.
"We are on course to provide an exceptional scheme which has been strongly backed by Darlington Borough Council as a strategic development within the town centre. Tenant and customer excitement are already building and we have a strong marketing campaign planned ahead of launch."
In addition to the scheme, Darlington Borough Council is constructing a multi-storey 650-space car park adjacent to Feethams.