A former Darlington Co-op store has been sold to a new owner, months after being listed on the market with a £400,000 price tag.
Located at the corner of North Road and Askrigg Street, the prominent Art Deco building — most recently operated as A1 Motor Stores — was brought to market last year.
Agent Parker Barras had pitched the site as a prime opportunity for redevelopment, noting its potential to “once again make a great convenience store”.
Currently in a shell state, the building awaits final completion works, offering flexibility for prospective occupiers. Significant investment has already been made, including a new roof and UPVC windows.
While the identity of the buyer and their plans remain undisclosed, the site’s strategic position on a busy thoroughfare and its adaptable layout suggest it could re-emerge as a valuable retail or mixed-use property.
The building, which spans two floors, offers multiple configuration options.
The ground floor can either operate as a single large unit or be divided into smaller spaces, with separate access to the first floor. Part of the first floor, accessible directly from North Road, benefits from existing planning permission for a three-bedroom flat.
A sizeable rear yard and an 800 sq ft garage (held under a separate title) add further development and operational potential.
Built in the early 1930s by the Darlington Co-operative Society, the building has a rich history. Older residents recall it once housed a grocery, bakery, fishmonger, fruit shop and butcher. A dance school operated upstairs from the 1940s until the early 1970s.
Although no exact date is recorded, it’s believed the Co-op ceased trading at the site in the late 1970s, after which it became home to Roy Smith Motor Factors.
With strong footfall along North Road and rising demand for local convenience and mixed-use retail spaces, the site's redevelopment could bring new life to one of Darlington’s historic commercial hubs.
