The Present
Over the last 10 years Marchday have invested over £35m in the regeneration of this important part of Darlington. They
have worked hard to change the perception of Lingfield Point from the dilapidated industrial estate it was 10 years ago into
the thriving new business community it is today.
Throughout Lingfield Point’s renaissance Marchday have kept the celebration of the site’s industrial heritage central to its
thinking. This theme has helped shape the iconic, contemporary business space created from existing landmark buildings
unique to Lingfield Point.
Over 250,000 sq ft of office space has been let at Lingfield Point in the last five years and more than 2,000 people currently
work there. Lingfield Point is home to 39 companies, with this number likely to increase significantly over the next few years.
In response to this growing workforce Marchday has set up on-site facilities such as a deli café and nursery.
Marchday is a customer focused company and have long understood the value of providing excellent customer service. In response to strong market demand Marchday have recently converted the existing iconic buildings the Lofts and Studios which have been let to Xentrall, a partnership between Darlington & Stockton Council. A further large scale loft style office building, Rocket, will be created from the existing wool factory buildings adjacent to Lingfield Point’s new entrance from the Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor.
Click on the development below for more information.
The entrance hall of Lingfield House in 1951
The balcony at Lingfield House now – the bronze balustrade is made up of knitting symbols. Many of the original features in the entrance have been retained.
Lingfield House under construction
Lingfield House today
Lingfield House
Lingfield House Reception
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Lingfield House
The first building to be revitalised was Lingfield House, created as the grand front door to the Patons & Baldwins empire. With its striking modernist fenestration, twin sweeping staircases and glass and bronze chandeliers, the entrance hall is as grand today as it was when it first opened its doors in 1951.
A significant wing was refurbished to provide J&P Coats with the modern offices its business required. Other companies including Four Seasons Health Care and Recognition PR joined them. In early 2003, Capita moved into 50,000 sq ft of modern ‘loft style’ offices created from the former wool factory’s yarn warehouse. This type of space was unique to Darlington, providing excellent large scale, air conditioned, open plan office space.
I've been on a few tours of the site and the whole place has been transformed into something quite special, they’ve created the kind of buildings and use of space that people would be happy to work in, instead of the featureless office blocks some expected to see. The area is starting to look fantastic, and has a great feel to it.
Martin Landers
Treasurer, Red Hall Community Partnership
The Beehive under construction
Christmas Dinner in the Beehive (1954)
The Beehive today
The Beehive at night
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The Beehive
Next to receive treatment was the Beehive, a beautiful double height performance space with the stage still intact. After much thought Marchday decided to create six split-level contemporary office suites from the main auditorium, even leaving the stage in place. Within months the space was occupied by NAAFI, Faulkner Brown and Swiis Fostercare. This success allowed Marchday to speculate further and create a second phase of Beehive in the space originally used as the P&B kitchens. Before work was complete, Darlington Borough Council agreed terms to take the space.
Amongst the many exciting developments in Darlington, Lingfield Point is one of the most ambitious and innovative. The combination of imagination and investment that Marchday have applied to the site has won universal praise from all quarters of the borough. As an iconic part of Darlington’s industrial heritage we are confident that Lingfield Point can continue to be seen in this light with the integration of design, environmental sustainability and commercial opportunity making it a place for the future.
Steve Rose
Chief Executive, Darlington Partnership
Memphis piazza
The striking entrance makes the most of the bright lofty space
Staff enjoy a coffee in the beautiful double height café/break-out space
Student Loans Company break-out and informal meeting spaces
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Memphis
Emboldened by its success at Lingfield House and the Beehive, Marchday speculated a significant sum creating an identity for 70,000 sq ft of the wool factory building. This was named Memphis meaning ‘place of good things’.
In spring of 2007, Marchday agreed terms with Student Loans Company to occupy the whole of Memphis and in June 2008 Student Loans Company moved into its bespoke £8.5m landmark offices bringing 650 jobs to Darlington.
Our choice of office space reflects our commitment to providing the best possible working environment for our staff. We really like the idea of re-using a building which was originally built as a wool factory and were attracted by its potential. Together with Marchday we’ve created Memphis, a vibrant, contemporary place to work and we’re delighted with our new offices.
Our new offices show our long-term commitment to Darlington and Lingfield Point and we are really excited about the proposed 10–15 year vision for the site.
Derek Ross
Deputy Chief Executive, Student Loans Company
For more information on the current availability of commercial
space on this site please visit:
www.lingfieldpoint.co.uk