Member Article

HCA delighted with ‘high quality’ Durham development

One of the key backers behind a major redevelopment programme in Durham City says he’s delighted with the “high quality partners” involved in the scheme.

The Chairman of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Robert Napier CBE, paid a visit to Durham City’s riverside redevelopment programme.

Last year the HCA entered into a development agreement with Durham County Council and a development consortium led by Carillion Developments, Arlington Real Estate and Richardsons Capital LLP to invest £27m into the scheme.

Construction of the project, which will retain and attract up to 800 jobs for Durham City, is underway and Mr Napier was given a tour of the site by representatives from the development consortium.

He saw the first stages of development of the new offices being constructed for National Savings and Investment, which will relocate to Freeman’s Reach from Milburngate House on the opposite bank of the Wear ensuring 395 jobs remain in the city centre.

Mr Napier said: “It’s fantastic to see how our investment has attracted such high quality partners as Carillion Developments and Arlington Real Estate, which are creating 300 construction jobs and safeguarding many other jobs for the future.”

In addition, Mr Napier was shown the future home of the hydro-turbine, which will enable Freeman’s Reach to become the first hydro-powered city centre development in the UK.

The electricity generating hydro-turbine uses an Archimedean screw to harness the power of the river generating more than 75 percent of the power required for Freeman’s Reach.

In addition, when the building is not in use, electricity generated by the turbine will be fed into the National Grid.

Neil McMillan, director of Carillion Developments, added: “The Homes and Communities Agency has been very supportive of our vision to regenerate the riverside by creating an attractive, sustainable development that will prove to be a catalyst for further regeneration and additional inward investment for this part of the city.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .