Tees Valley Combined Authority has awarded Wilmott Dixon a £30 million contract to develop Darlington train station's entrance.

The work will consist of the creation of a new multi-storey car park that will be incorporated into the station's new wider entrance.

The project is part of Network Rail's £140m masterplan to deliver extra train capacity and better passenger facilities at the station. This will include work to build two additional platforms at the site.

The scheme is set to be complete by 2025 in time for the Stockton and Darlington Railway bicentennial celebrations.

Commenting on the project, Nick Corrigan, North East director for Willmott Dixon, said: "We're proud to say that, as well as creating a vibrant and transformative new gateway into Darlington, the station development really will be changing lives and creating opportunities for local people. In addition to new local jobs, apprenticeships and training weeks, in partnership with Tees Valley Combined Authority, we are creating employment opportunities for local people facing barriers to work through our dedicated Building Lives Academy programme.

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"Over the coming months, we will be working with the likes of Darlington Borough Council's Youth Employment Initiative and Aycliffe Secure Centre, to deliver Building Lives Academies for local young people who are not in education, employment or training. This is a project for the people of Darlington, built by the people of Darlington and we're committed to spending £12m with local supply chain businesses."

Reflecting on the potential impact of the development, Tees Valley Mayor Mayor Houchen said: "With hundreds of Government jobs coming to Darlington, the town and its people deserve a modern and vibrant station to provide a gateway to the rest of the great developments on their way. This is another significant milestone and I'm thrilled the station project is steaming ahead."