Murton///North East England — Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors, the North East’s largest outlet shopping destination, has secured a double win at the North East Tourism Awards, achieving Gold in the Regenerative Tourism category and Silver for the Accessible and Inclusive Award. The recognition reinforces Dalton Park’s position as a leader in sustainable retail destinations and inclusive visitor experiences across the region.
The awards celebrate Dalton Park’s long-term commitment to regenerative tourism, demonstrated by a wide-ranging program of environmental, community and accessibility initiatives. Central to this is the outlet’s unique 55-acre landscaped parkland, created from reclaimed land and now home to woodland, wetlands and wildflower meadows, alongside the North’s first Pollinator Parks Garden designed to support biodiversity and enhance visitor wellbeing.
Dalton Park has also developed strong partnerships to drive positive environmental and social impact. Its collaboration with Climate Action North delivers regular wellbeing walks, biodiversity surveys and educational activities, while community-focused initiatives include artisan markets, school engagement program and environmental projects such as beach cleans and public art installations.
A range of sustainability measures have also been implemented across the scheme, including on-site solar energy generation, water-saving technologies and refill stations to reduce single-use plastics. Over the past year, Dalton Park generated over 193,000 kWh of renewable energy onsite, saving more than 47 tons of CO₂. In 2025, the outlet installed its Water Refill Stations in line with its commitment to reducing single-use plastic, providing visitors with a free, on-the-go hydration solution. Other initiatives included the installation of a solar-powered e-bike charging hub to encourage sustainable travel and is working towards carbon neutrality by 2050 or earlier, supported by its recent ISO 14001 certification*.
Accessibility remains a key priority, with Dalton Park recognized for its inclusive approach to visitor experience. Initiatives delivered in partnership with the North East Autism Society include Quiet Mornings, sensory support tools and clear wayfinding resources, ensuring the destination is welcoming and accessible to all.
Notably, following the introduction of Quiet Mornings on Tuesdays 10am – 12pm and Saturdays from 9:30am – 10:30am, sales during this period reported a +5.1% versus the same period the year before, demonstrating clear and growing demand for inclusive retail experiences.
Richard Kaye, Center Manager at Dalton Park commented: “Winning Gold for Regenerative Tourism and Silver for Accessible and Inclusive is a fantastic achievement for the entire park and reflects our commitment to creating a destination that is both environmentally responsible and genuinely inclusive. We are proud to offer a retail and leisure experience that goes beyond shopping to one that connects visitors with nature, supports our local community and ensures everyone feels welcome. These awards are a testament to the passion and dedication of Dalton Park and we remain focused on continuing this journey in the years ahead.”
*International standard for environmental systems
