Developers reveal plans for latest Durham spec-office scheme attracting over 100 new jobs

Hanro and iMpeC Developments have unveiled plans for The Fram Well building - the first Grade A office building to be constructed in Durham in over

Planning permission for the development has been secured with construction planned to begin in early 2019. The Fram Well is expected to be completed in summer 2019, creating more office space in the city centre.

The regeneration of the site adjacent to the mainline railway station has the potential to attract up to 150 new jobs to Durham.

Currently, research suggests Durham has almost no modern office space available, leading to a loss of investment and job creation.

According to research by agents Cushman & Wakefield, in the first six months of 2018, there were enquiries for the equivalent of more than 1.1 million sq ft of office space in the region.

Of this number, the company calculates that 650,000 sq ft would have considered Durham, and nearly 250,000 sq ft citing the city as being within their search criteria.

To play a part in alleviating this issue, Hanro and iMpeC will develop the 12,000 sq ft three-floor office building - located off Framwellgate Peth adjacent to Durham railway station.

Neil McMillan said: “Durham is a city where quality businesses what to be located. Its geography, its amenities and, most importantly, its access to talent, from one of the UK’s top universities, make it a highly attractive business destination.

“However, the economic potential of the city has been constrained for far too long due to a severe lack of available modern office space. The Fram Well building will start to address that.”

Rejuvenating an area of the city that has been allowed to become rundown, the development will transform the site, which was originally an engineering workshop, into a flexible, open-plan office.

The building’s heritage and location close to the railway has been referenced in its design, which has been delivered by the award-winning Mawson Kerr, an emerging and creative Newcastle-based architects practice that was featured in the final of Channel 4’s Grand Designs competition for a property in Northumberland.

It will also feature significantly improved landscaping, providing The Fram Well occupiers with outdoor amenity space in a tranquil setting with impressive views over the City’s historic skyline.

The development of The Fram Well building is being led by iMpeC Developments’ Neil McMillan, who has been instrumental in a number of significant regeneration projects in and around Durham including Freemans Reach, the new home of HM Passport Office and National Savings & Investments, and Milburngate.

Neil added: “We have placed high importance on working with our architects Mawson Kerr to design a building that people will enjoy working in and that delivers on our guiding design principles of staff well being and productivity.

“I believe The Fram Well will appeal to businesses who value attracting and retaining the best talent and who recognise the important role the workplace plays in this.”

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