Member Article

Hotel to support tourism in Durham

Amended plans have been submitted to convert a disused Stanley care home into a hotel and restaurant to serve local people and visitors to the region’s tourist attractions - including the nearby Beamish Museum.

Newcastle based All Saints Living had intended to turn the former Stanfield House care home, on Joicey Square, into a community hub - comprising studio and single bed apartments, commercial space and a tea room.

However, interest in the previous scheme from both potential tenants and local businesses was not encouraging and following consultations with Durham County Council and Visit County Durham – which highlighted a shortage of hotel accommodation in the area – the decision was taken to amend the plans.

Hotel 52 will comprise 25 quality bedrooms, a licensed restaurant to serve both the hotel guests and external trade, a coffee shop and meeting facilities.

A public consultation event – to present and display the new hotel plans - was held last week and attended by over 60 people including, local and county councillors, residents and representatives from the traders’ association.

Keith McDougall, Director with All Saints Living, said: “It is disappointing that the initial scheme proved not to be viable as a lot of work was done to involve the community and provide facilities that would benefit the area.

“However, this new venture is an exciting alternative, which will not only address the need for hotel accommodation but will also create employment opportunities for local people. We anticipate 30 people will work on the construction of the hotel and around 15 will be required to run it.

“There were no major objections raised at the public consultation and we were able to address other issues that residents living in the immediate vicinity of the development had. In addition, people responded positively to the provision of a quality licensed restaurant – to be open to the public - and we also had enquiries about the jobs to be created, both by the renovation work and when the hotel is open.

“We are pleased that the new proposals have so much support from local residents and we intend to build upon our relationship - established over that last 12 months – by further engaging with the community as the scheme progresses, should planning permission be given.”

With its headquarters in St. Cuthbert House, Newcastle, All Saints Living is part of The High Street Group - established by successful entrepreneur Gary Forrest in 2004. It has grown to become a leading financial and property group employing over 50 people in activities including property development, developer finance and financial claims.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .