Dalton Park in County Durham is the biggest outlet shopping & leisure centre in the North East, with over 70 shops & restaurants selling over 200 brands. Key tenants include M&S, Next, GAP, Adidas & Cineworld.
Dalton Park also has a number of coffee shops and restaurants including Starbucks, Thornton’s, Frankie & Benny’s, Pizza Express as well as drive-thru McDonald’s and KFC units.
Built on a former colliery spoil site, Dalton Park opened in April 2003. Following the investment made by new owners who purchased the scheme in 2015, significant investment has been made in the development of Phase Two which includes a Cineworld, a number of restaurants as outlined above and standalone family public house on a long leasehold to Marston’s PLC. This phase opened in 2016.
The scheme now comprises 68 retail units, 11 cafes/restaurants/bars, a cinema complex, 1,700 car parking spaces and boasts 2.6 million visitors every year.
Realm Limited are the asset managers for the scheme and were appointed by the new owners in 2015. Following the successful completion of Phase Two, Realm worked closely with their client to develop plans and deliver a significant upgrade to the outlet mall in 2017. This is included new paving throughout, Trespa panelling to the shop fronts, new mall furniture and signage a well as improved landscaping and lighting schemes and also included a full refurbishment of the public WCs.
Alongside the shopping centre, the former colliery spoil was sculptured to provide 55 acres of landscaped parkland with three signposted walks and various wildlife habitats.
Commenting on the new 3 year c£2m contract, Alistair Clayton, Commercial Director at Aston Services Group said, “Dalton Park is a leading UK retail and leisure destination and this award is testament not only to our growth as a supplier of security and associated soft services but also to our wider understanding of the demands of the retail sector. We are delighted to continue working with REALM and the teams at Dalton Park. Our people-centric ethos and approach were a pivotal reason alongside our aptitude for delivering a high-quality service solution to a prestigious retail destination.”
Jerry Hatch, Centre Manager at Dalton Park commented, “We (REALM) are looking for consistency, quality and communication from our suppliers and we know that Aston delivers on all three. Following the significant investment over the past 3 years by our client, Dalton Park now offers a modern and vibrant environment for our tenants and our customers. Sustaining the highest levels of cleanliness, safety and customer service to the public and to maintain a “best in class” shopping environment for them is our goal – a goal shared by Aston Services Group. Their people based approach fits well with our overall ethos.”
(Photograph shows the team at Dalton Park, led by Julie Charlton, Facilities Manager)