DARLINGTON NEWS
Ambitious – The hangar will be large enough to fit planes such as a Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A321neo .
Garden village plan consultation launched
WORK TO START ON GIANT AIRPORT HANGAR
Construction work on a key expansion of Teesside International Airport is to start after plans for a major new hangar were approved .
The 27,000-sq ft structure is the first of two new hangars that will provide a key development to attract further investment and return the airport to profit .
Darlington Borough Council has now granted planning approval for both hangars , subject to conditions .
Barnard Castle-based S & A Fabrications will begin work on the first giant hangar on the north side of the airport after securing the contract for the project earlier this year . Work is expected to take six to eight months .
The hangar will be 44 metres wide and 57 metres long and reach up to 16.5 metres . When completed it will provide additional
space for aircraft storage and maintenance .
More than 230 tonnes of steel will be used in its construction and the development will also include car parking and a concrete apron to access the hangar from the taxiway .
The construction contract has already seen S & A take on additional staff , with an expected increase in workforce of around five to 10 staff . Up to 40 subcontractors will support the company in delivering the facility on site .
It is the first aircraft hangar which S & A Fabrications will develop , building on its extensive experience delivering major structures for commercial and agricultural use .
The huge 600-sq m doors will be provided by a UK company and the hangar will be large enough to fit planes such as a Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A321neo .
The latest plans for a new garden village in the North-East will be revealed at a public consultation launched by regional planning and development consultancy Lichfields .
The proposed multi-millionpound development by property developers Banks Property and Skerningham Estates could see up to 3,700 new houses – including hundreds of affordable living properties – built at the 487-hectare Skerningham Garden Village site to the north of Darlington .
New schools , healthcare facilities , shops , pubs , cafés , businesses , leisure services and amenities are also on the cards as part of ambitious plans by the government , which is looking to create new garden villages across England .
John starts camper van business
A Darlington man has left his steady corporate job behind him and started his own business customising camper vans .
John Murphy has set up Tees Valley Campers and Customs in a new unit at Evolution Park in Darlington – recently developed by Priority Space .
He has transformed the 1,000-sq ft space into a bespoke workshop where ordinary working vans can be converted into fully fitted and kitted-out leisure campers .
John most recently worked for nine years in a national management position at Calor Gas , but outside the office has always loved building and converting vehicles .
Dairy celebrates 25 years of being organic
A dairy that supplies homes and businesses across the region is celebrating 25 years of farming organically .
The Tweddle family have been farming at 360-acre Acorn Dairy , in Archdeacon Newton , near Darlington , for 95 years .
In 1998 , Gordon and Linda , along with their children Graham and Caroline , attained Soil Association organic status .
The herd was no longer issued routine antibiotics and no chemical-based fertilisers or herbicides have been used . The move to organic has not only benefitted the animals reared on the farm but also the wildlife that calls it home .
In 2021 , Acorn was awarded a Queen ’ s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development .
Cummins scoops inspiration award
Engineering group Cummins was named Most Inspirational North East STEM Employer at the North East STEM Awards 2023 .
The awards celebrate and recognise STEM Ambassadors , organisations and individuals who inspire , engage and enthuse young people .
“ Inspiring the next generation through the delivery of STEM activities continues to be a key focus for Cummins and we are delighted to be the recipient of such an amazing award ,” said David Hodgson , education pillar lead at Cummins ’ Darlington site .
“ The Cummins education team has worked tirelessly post Covid to ensure we expanded on the previous firm foundations designing , developing and delivering STEM activities to existing and new partners throughout the North-East .”
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