• Author: Lingfield Point
  • Posted: August 15, 2010
  • Threads: Art

Categories: General

Public Art for image or identity? »

We’ve stumbled across a piece of academic research which completely supports our attitude to art. In fact it could be our mantra:

“The use of historical associations can provide a valuable means of linking image and identity.” ~ John McCarthy

We more than tick that box!

Wander anywhere on Lingfield Point and you’ll find a visual link to the past.

It’s something we’re very proud of, and we’re convinced our links to the past are helping us build firm foundations for the future.

McCarthy went on to explain that communities which use art to try and help achieve regeneration can often get it wrong. They run the risk of choosing artwork which just doesn’t reflect the identity of the place. He had that right!

We’ve all seen artwork that we don’t’ like, but if it’s in our hometown and sticks out like a sore thumb it tends to leave a painful imprint on our territorial souls.

Just take a look how the Angel of the South has been received, and that gargantuan landmark has only just received planning permission.

In order to avoid any white elephants or design disasters we set about enhancing Lingfield Point by focusing on its rich heritage and local identify.

We also carried out widespread consultation with those who are passionate about the area, allowing them to help shape our vision for this historic site.

It’s always been our intention to carefully and lovingly restore Lingfield Point, transforming it back into the ground-breaking mixed community it was when the doors opened back in the 1950s.

But we knew that would only be possible if we had the people of Darlington not only supporting the plan but playing an active role in shaping it.

* John McCarthy. Journal of Urban Design. Volume 11: Issue 2. June 2006: Pages 243 – 262

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  • Author: Lingfield Point
  • Posted: August 6, 2010
  • Threads: Sustainability

Categories: General

Lingfield Point on sustainability »

“Sustainability is a process which tells of a development of all aspects of human life affecting sustenance. It means resolving the conflict between the various competing goals, and involves the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity.”

“To successfully advance in solving global problems, we need to develop new methods of thinking, to elaborate new moral and value criteria, and, no doubt, new patterns of behaviour.”

“Sustainable development seeks to meet the needs and aspirations of the present without without compromising the ability to meet those of the future.”

The above quotes are taken from authoritative texts on sustainability. It’s stirring stuff, there’s no doubt about that. But today ‘sustainability’ is a buzz word, dropped into most business conversations like punctuation. Many of us can talk the talk, but just how many of us are walking the walk?
Sixty years ago Lingfield Point was hailed as the new way of working. They may not have realised it at the time but the site’s owners were way ahead of their time.

Today that ethos is as vibrant as ever, and we are transforming the former manufacturing base on the outskirts of Darlington into a dynamic, contemporary business community. But that’s just the start. By leading this new ‘industrial revolution’ we aim to create a new sustainable mixed community which will become recognized as a highly desirable place to live and work. As well as preserving the environment by restoring the buildings on the site we are striving to ensure staff and visitors enjoy a sense of well-being. And we are confident that the strong foundations we have built will enable Lingfield Point to evolve, grow and adapt to meet the needs of its current and future residents.

We don’t claim to know it all. We know it’s a marathon not a sprint which is why we intend to inject some fun into what we do. And by focusing on the holy trinity of sustainability – social, economic and environment – we believe we are achieving a happy balance.
But enough about us, tell us about you. What does sustainability mean to you?

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  • Author: Lingfield Point
  • Posted: August 4, 2010
  • Threads: Regeneration

Categories: General

Birth of Lingfield Point »

Our journey begins immediately after the Second World War when Patons & Baldwins set about building their new wool factory at Lingfield Point. Their aim was to create a flagship manufacturing base for the world famous knitting yarn company. But more importantly the owners shared a bigger vision.

Theirs was a holistic vision, a caring, all encompassing vision. That vision is shared by today’s owners Marchday – that’s us! Not only did Patons & Baldwins want to build the most advanced production facility in the world but they believed that the health and happiness of their workforce was key to the success of their businesses. So they set about creating working conditions which were unprecedented at the time.
It was a brave and ambitious vision. The country was struggling after the Second World War and everyday items including butter and cheese were still rationed. Nonetheless Patons & Baldwins built homes, schools and colleges and provided excellent healthcare facilities for the workforce and their families.

By 1951 the revolutionary wool factory was complete – at a cost of £7.5m – and at over two million square feet was the largest wool factory in the world. It’s great to know Lingfield Point once helped put Darlington on the global map. We just hope our vision for the site will do the same.

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