New student accommodation will be built as part of a shopping centre’s major redevelopment, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
Ambitious plans to create a mixed-use shopping, living and leisure site at Prince Bishops in Durham City will go ahead after being approved by Durham County Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.
Up to 32 commercial units will be created and marketed at national and independent retailers, while the new student accommodation will be built above the shops and existing multi-storey car park.
Supporters of the scheme have praised it as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to secure the city centre’s future.
Citrus Durham, the applicant, added that the redevelopment would cater to modern-day shopping habits and breathe new life into an area labelled “outdated” by residents.
Planning permission for the scheme was initially granted in 2024 but was revised after plans for a 101-bedroom hotel were dropped. Up to 504 Rooms will now be provided in the new student accommodation.
New views of the River Wear will be achieved by opening up the enclosed thoroughfare through the site and also creating a new public square space.
A new pedestrian link bridge is also proposed to connect New Elvet Bridge with the new public square to improve pedestrian accessibility throughout the city centre and Prince Bishops Place.
Citrus Durham said: “The development will better suit the existing and future needs of retail and leisure operators; broadening the mix and appeal of the high street and better responding to the challenging retail trading environment to once again drive footfall back to the shopping streets of Durham.”
David Freeman, Liberal Democrat county councillor for the city centre, said the shopping centre’s current financial model, which opened in 1998, is “unsustainable”.
He added: “It’s the only hope for ensuring we have a viable centre which could offer new retail opportunities in the city.
“There will be a lot of disruption for the city centre, but in three years’ time we will be in a better place, and we can have a thriving centre that has retailers offering niche shops that people are prepared to come to Durham and spend money in.”
The proposal includes an investment of around £58 million and is set to create up to 550 jobs.
And the new student accommodation was also praised by members in the hope that it would ease pressure on the local housing market.
Cllr James Stephenson, Reform member for Shildon and Dene Valley, said: “Bringing students out of HMOs and into the PBSA is a good thing for the city and its housing.”
Initial works to transform the site will start immediately, with physical construction scheduled to begin in 2027.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
