Concerns over progress of Scotch Corner Designer Village

The owners of the Scotch Corner Designer Village revealed in July this year that they had set an opening date of March 26, 2026, for the first phase of the project, including the first shops, and Blue Diamond home, lifestyle and garden centre.

The retail and leisure destination was initially scheduled to open in October 2023, but that was pushed back to September 2024, and then March 2026. 

The retail development at Scotch Corner taken in February this year (Image: CHRIS BOOTH) Despite the masterplan being revealed by developers, the progress at the retail park, which will boast names including Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi’s, Calvin Klein, Adidas and Joules, has been questioned in recent months, with the public and councillors saying little to no work has happened on the site. 

A mock-up of how the Scotch Corner Designer Village will look once built (Image: SCOTCH CORNER DESIGNER VILLAGE) Councillor Angus Thompson, who covers the North Richmondshire division, which includes Scotch Corner, believes that the lack of progress is "worrying", while also highlighting issues with the build-up of traffic, especially if progress on the A66 dualling scheme is delayed or abandoned. 

Work on upgrading the A66 to full dual carriageway between Scotch Corner and Penrith had been expected to start in early 2025 after the project was approved in March by the then Transport Secretary.

The steel frames on the site at Scotch Corner in February this year (Image: CHRIS BOOTH) But the whole £1.4bn scheme was called into question when Labour came to power after the Department for Transport  said an “internal review” of ongoing, scheduled and confirmed transport projects would be held.

Cllr Thompson now believes that the A66 dualling will be pivotal in the opening of the Scotch Corner Designer Village, which was handed planning approval in 2014.

He said: "The fact that the A66 scheme has been called into question is worrying enough - but I believe this could be the make or break of the designer village.

Framework and cladding on some of the structure on the site in February this year (Image: CHRIS BOOTH) "Already, there are traffic issues on the A66 and the roundabout near where the Designer Village will be, and a reported 30 per cent increase in traffic on that stretch once the development is complete.

"The road can't cope as it is, let alone if the A66 doesn't go ahead."

He added: "We need this designer village to go ahead - but I can understand the concerns of people not seeing any work on the ground. 

"The site has been started but it doesn't look like it's been worked on for months".

Richmond and Northallerton MP Rishi Sunak has also raised issues with the traffic and called for the A66 dualling to go ahead, which, he says, would alleviate traffic worries next to where the Scotch Corner Designer Village will be built.

He said: “I understand the concerns that residents have about the Scotch Corner junction and have been in contact with National Highways and the local authority about the problems there have been in the past.

"The junction’s capacity is to be increased as part of the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine upgrade project and this is another reason why the scheme must proceed. I have recently written to the Transport Secretary about the importance of the upgrade project on safety and economic grounds.”

Despite the concerns about progress on the site, a spokesperson of the development said: “Scotch Corner Designer Village will be opening on March 26, 2026 and we are looking forward to welcoming guests from Richmondshire, Darlington, North Yorkshire and beyond.

"We are busy signing up excellent retailers and restaurateurs and are working on all aspects to make Scotch Corner Designer Village the leading destination in the whole of the north of England."