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Tourism Opportunities
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Elvet Waterside
Executive Summary And Promoter Details
A significant opportunity to redevelop a non-designated asset adjacent to the river and in sight of Durham’s Cathedral & Castle World Heritage Site. The site is within easy access of the city centre and is immediately adjacent to car parking and a Victorian park. The site is situated on a popular walking route between the University buildings and the city centre; presenting an unique opportunity to extend the retail, leisure or commercial uses in this popular area of the city.
Photographic Library
Land Ownership
The surrounding land is owned by the University of Durham (car parks) and Durham County Council owns the site shown within the red line boundary and the adjacent park (former Baths and former bowling green/park).
Site Description
The site is a significant infill site within the Elvet area of Durham City. The former Baths building was used as a public swimming pool until 2008. Since this time, the building has been vacant and the University use the adjacent land as car parking for their staff. The site has a number of mature trees contained within it, has a good interrelationship with the World Heritage Site and it is contained within the boundary of the Conservation Area. A number of listed buildings are located adjacent to the site and also lies adjacent to the River Wear, Baths Bridge and the riverside footpath network.
Site Area/Floor Area
1.4 hectares
Planning Status
The site is allocated for development in the City of Durham Local Plan under Policy CC3.
Development Potential And Regeneration Benefits
A Development Brief for the site is being prepared detailing design planning and infrastructure guidance. Conservation Design guidance will be important given the interrelationship with Durham Cathedral and Castle.
The Local Plan allocates the land for Residential, Educational, Health and Leisure Uses, however further flood investigation work would now constrain residential uses.
Infrastructure Needs
The site lies within a flood zone and functional flood plain. Work has been undertaken to assess this flood risk and the technical modelling and interpretations are included within the development brief. As a functional flood plain, redevelopment of the site would be restricted to reuse of the existing building.
