How many care home beds are there in Darlington?

There are 1,300 registered care home beds across 31 CQC-registered homes in Darlington, of which 630 are in homes registered for nursing care and 1,059 in homes registered for dementia care (2026-07-10).

Is Darlington undersupplied or oversupplied with care beds?

Darlington has 43.9 beds per 100 residents aged 85+, against a national average of 32.5 — oversupplied. That is 337 beds above what the national rate implies.

How will demand for care beds in Darlington change by 2043?

The population aged 85+ in Darlington is projected to change by +74.2% between 2025 and 2043 (ONS 2022-based projections). Held at today's 1,300 beds, that would be 25.2 beds per 100 aged 85+ — undersupplied, a shortfall of 377 beds at the national rate.

How many care beds does Darlington need?

At the national rate of 32.5 beds per 100 aged 85+, Darlington would hold about 963 beds today against its actual 1,300, rising to roughly 1,677 beds by 2043 as the 85+ population grows.

Care in Darlington

31 homes · 1,300 beds · CQC + ONS · 2026-07-10

Darlington carries 43.9 beds per 100 residents aged 85+, against a national average of 32.5 — oversupplied

43.9

beds per 100 aged 85+ (national 32.5)

1,300

registered beds · 31 homes

2,963

residents aged 85+ (2020)

+74.2%

projected 85+ change to 2043

Darlington looks oversupplied today — but its population aged 85+ is projected to change +74.2% by 2043. Hold today's 1,300 beds and the same stock falls to 25.2 per 100, a shortfall of 377 beds. Today's balance is tomorrow's shortage.

2,963

85+ today

5,161

85+ in 2043

Demand & supply today

Residents aged 75+	10,321
Residents aged 85+	2,963
Registered care beds	1,300
Beds per 100 aged 85+	43.9
Beds at the national rate (32.5/100)	963
Surplus vs national rate	337 beds
Beds in homes registered for nursing	630
Beds in homes registered for dementia	1,059

Quality of the existing stock

73% of beds sit in homes rated Good or Outstanding by the CQC. 244 beds sit in homes rated Requires improvement or Inadequate — supply that may not endure, and therefore latent demand a new scheme can plan around.

Outstanding · 9Good · 934Requires improvement · 244Inadequate · 0Not rated · 113

Largest providers in Darlington

Provider	Homes	Beds
Highgate Care Services Ltd	2	136
Marton Care Ltd	2	120
Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited	2	109
Care UK Care Services Limited	1	106
Care UK Community Partnerships Ltd	1	106
Middleton Hall Limited	1	90
Prestige Care (Middleton) Limited	1	83
St. Martin's Care Limited	1	63

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Care in Darlington — questions

How many care home beds are there in Darlington?: There are 1,300 registered care home beds across 31 CQC-registered homes in Darlington, of which 630 are in homes registered for nursing care and 1,059 in homes registered for dementia care (2026-07-10).
Is Darlington undersupplied or oversupplied with care beds?: Darlington has 43.9 beds per 100 residents aged 85+, against a national average of 32.5 — oversupplied. That is 337 beds above what the national rate implies.
How will demand for care beds in Darlington change by 2043?: The population aged 85+ in Darlington is projected to change by +74.2% between 2025 and 2043 (ONS 2022-based projections). Held at today's 1,300 beds, that would be 25.2 beds per 100 aged 85+ — undersupplied, a shortfall of 377 beds at the national rate.
How many care beds does Darlington need?: At the national rate of 32.5 beds per 100 aged 85+, Darlington would hold about 963 beds today against its actual 1,300, rising to roughly 1,677 beds by 2043 as the 85+ population grows.

Nearby authorities in North East: Northumberland · County Durham · North Tyneside · Redcar and Cleveland · Stockton-on-Tees · Newcastle upon Tyne · South Tyneside · Sunderland · Gateshead · Hartlepool
All of North East · All areas

Method: CQC HSCA Active Locations give every registered care home, its beds, registration scope (nursing / dementia) and latest rating; each home is assigned to a local authority by its nearest ONS population-weighted centroid. Demand is ONS small-area population aged 75+/85+ (2020); growth is ONS 2022-based subnational projections for the 85+ band (2025–2043). The national benchmark of 32.5 beds per 100 aged 85+ is computed from the same data, not assumed. Figures are estimates for research and site screening, not a substitute for a commissioned feasibility study. Updated July 2026.