Publication Date: 03-02-2026 09:00
Pupils name four new streets to be built in Darlington
Pupils at Mowden School in Darlington have named four new streets to be built in the town by homebuilder Bellway.
The Year 5 children took part in a competition organised by the company, which is building a new development off Staindrop Road to the west of the town, to be called Baydale Village.
The four winning pupils were presented with mock-ups of the street signs for their chosen names: Fern Close, Beehive Drive, Daisy Avenue, and Tulip Avenue.
“When I let the winners know that their ideas had been chosen, they were so excited and they can’t wait to one day go and visit the signs when those streets have been built,” said Becky Vickers, who is one of the Year 5 teachers at the school off Conyers Avenue.
“They started thinking about the idea of living on the street they had named and were all very enthused to be part of something like this. They have had the opportunity to be part of the history of their own town.”
The children were given a nature theme when they were set the task of coming up with street names.
Becky said: “They were really enthusiastic about coming up with ideas. We had a chat in class about the nature theme and the kind of things we could use for ideas such as trees, animals and plants. And we also talked about the different ways we name streets, such as ‘Close’ or ‘Grove’ or ‘Drive’, as well as ‘Street’.
“We talked about the fact that it’s a new development and what an amazing opportunity it is to name streets that will be there and have street signs that would stay there for a very long time.”
The winners, all aged nine, were Rory (Fern Close) Joe (Beehive Drive) Amelia (Daisy Avenue), and Eddie (Tulip Avenue).
Bellway Durham Sales Manager Victoria Dry said: “The children’s ideas were brilliant and so creative. We were thrilled to have received so many excellent suggestions from them.
“The final four that we chose are superb names for streets for the development and I am sure that when our customers start moving in, they will be very pleased to have such lovely addresses as Fern Close, Beehive Drive, Daisy Avenue, and Tulip Avenue.
“Thank you to all the children who took part and gave us their suggestions.”
Bellway is to build 428 homes on the 56-acre site under its Bellway and Ashberry Homes brands, with 300 private homes and 128 affordable properties.
The development will feature green open spaces and ponds, with trees, mixed shrubs and hedgerows planted to help provide wildlife habitats. Nest boxes will be placed at more than 70 of the properties, including swift boxes and sparrow/starling terraces next to open spaces to increase the availability of nesting sites.
Bellway’s project is part of a wider neighbourhood planned for up to 985 homes, with proposed facilities such as a GP surgery, shop, sports pitches and land for a primary and early years school.
To find out more about Baydale Village, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/durham/baydale-village.
