Milburngate House

Land Ownership

Development consortium comprising Carillion, Arlington Real Estate and Richardson Capital.

Site Description

The Site is situated to the North of Durham City Centre on the Western bank of the River Wear, extending from Leazes Road to the South, Framwelgate to the west, the River to the east and to the Radisson Hotel to the north.

The site covers an area of 2.3 hectares.  Of this full site area approximately 1.93 hectares is estimated to be developable. The existing building footprint is 10,604 square metres.

The site sits within a number of key views related to the UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) comprising Durham Cathedral and Castle and is within the Durham City Centre Conservation Area. The building is not listed and has been granted a Certificate of Immunity for five years from any Listing by the Secretary of State. It has also been noted in the Milburngate House Planning Brief (2012, p11) that the building is detracting from the historic character of the City and wider Conservation Area. Notwithstanding the above, it is acknowledged that whilst Milburngate House is a non-designated heritage asset within the Conservation and is of local significance. 

Site Plan

Site Area/Floor Area

2.31 hectares of which approximately 1.93 hectares are developable. 

Planning Status

Demolition approval granted in July 2015 (Planning Application Number DM/15/01119/FPA)

Demolition of Milburngate House, Durham, including remediation and enabling works in preparation for the proposed future redevelopment on the site.

It is anticipated that a Planning Application will be submitted in early 2016 for a phased redevelopment of the site.  

Development Potential And Regeneration Benefits

This is the first phase of the physical regeneration of the Site which will enable a high quality development to be brought forward;

• The proposals for the Milburngate House Site are a long term commitment and will be a significant regeneration scheme not only for the riverside, but for Durham City, the County and the Region as a whole;
• The demolition will facilitate job opportunities. Further job opportunities will arise from the long term construction phases and once the mixed-use scheme is operational; and
• The Proposed Development will allow future development to take place which will have significant environmental benefits; such as the remediation of land which will enable the development to come forward expediently.
• The Proposed Development will make a positive improvement to the visual setting of the WHS and Durham City Conservation Area;
• Once the demolition and subsequent stages of development are complete, residents and visitors will experience a more visually attractive townscape;
• The demolition will allow the later phases of the development to come forward, the mixed use development will enhance the vitality and viability of the City and provide residents and visitors with an increased choice of town centre uses;
• The Proposed Development will provide further opportunity for beneficial social, economic and physical regeneration of the Framwelgate Riverside Renewal area;
• The demolition will facilitate the opportunity for better pedestrian links in and through the City;
• The Proposed Development will allow the Site to be opened up to the public through the development of public spaces and improved views into and out of the WHS and Conservation Area;
• The demolition will enable the Site to be developed for a mix of uses which is a more sustainable option for this large City Centre Site;
• The demolition provides measures to address flooding on the Site;
• The proposal will provide an opportunity for significant inward investment, facilitating the provision of local jobs and aiding social, economic and physical regeneration.
• The Proposed Development will result in sustainable development opportunities through the regeneration of previously developed land; 

Infrastructure Needs

To follow

Delivery Timescale

The application for the demolition of Milburngate House was approved in July 2015.