Plans for a new 152-bedroom four-star hotel overlooking Durham’s cricket ground have been approved, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
The new six-storey hotel will be built at Durham Cricket Club’s Riverside ground in Chester-le-Street.
Plans submitted to Durham County Council show the development will include a bar and restaurant, meeting spaces, a small club shop and a permanent tiered seating terrace overlooking the cricket pitch.
Hotel operator Hilton has expressed an interest in running the development.
Durham Cricket Club said the facility will be “an absolute game changer” after the proposal was unanimously approved by the local authority on Thursday.
Planning committee members said the hotel would boost the local tourism sector and encourage more visitors to stay overnight. Tourism body Visit County Durham also backed the proposal, saying it would help meet an identified need for additional overnight accommodation in the county.
As part of the development, the ground floor will contain a car park and foyer, while the first floor will include restaurant facilities, a lobby and guest bedrooms. Additional bedrooms would be located on the upper four floors.
Plans for the new hotel have taken inspiration from similar hotel complexes at the Old Trafford, Manchester, and Rose Bowl, Hampshire.
A nine-tier seating terrace would be attached to the southern side of the building, providing views across the cricket ground.
The scheme is expected to generate millions of pounds for the cricket club, helping it remain financially competitive at a national level while bringing investment into the wider area.
The local authority received 24 objections from the public, raising concerns that the hotel could worsen existing parking pressures during major cricket matches and events at the ground.
But Durham Cricket Club said it will continually consult with residents about any issues and that appropriate measures are in place.
Planning documents stated the development would have some impact on local and wider landscape views, including the Grade I-listed Lumley Castle.
However, officers concluded the overall landscape harm would be of “minor to moderate” significance.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
