A new visitor attraction celebrating County Durham’s Roman heritage and major road and transport improvements have been proposed as part of plans to expand Bishop Auckland’s Kynren site into a year-round destination, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
The planning application submitted to Durham County Council includes proposals for Binchester Earth, a new attraction beside the Roman fort at Binchester, and Bishop Gateway, a transport scheme featuring a new access road and car parks to support growing visitor numbers.
The developments form part of a wider project that would also see the existing Kynren site expanded into 11Arches Park.
According to the plans, Binchester Earth would include a welcome centre, discovery centre and children’s play area surrounding the existing Roman fort site. The attraction would also host a programme of annual special events.
Developers said the attraction would complement the expanded Kynren offer by providing visitors with a new way to explore the area’s Roman history.
To support the increased number of visitors, the Bishop Gateway project would create a new 700-metre access road linking the A688 directly to the attractions, allowing traffic to bypass Bishop Auckland town centre.
The infrastructure plans also include two visitor car parks, a new pedestrian footbridge over the River Wear, a 450-metre footpath connecting the attractions, and a signal-controlled junction on the A688 with additional turning lanes.
Planning documents said the road and junction improvements had been designed to accommodate coaches and other large vehicles while reducing congestion in the town centre during major events.
The wider scheme would also see the existing Kynren site expanded into 11Arches Park, featuring three new themed performance venues inspired by different periods of history.
They include an outdoor Roman amphitheatre with villas and gardens, an indoor medieval castle theatre with an accompanying village, and a Tudor-themed indoor theatre surrounded by a recreated Tudor village.
In planning documents, developers described the overall project as a “transformative opportunity” for Bishop Auckland and County Durham.
A planning statement read: “Through the creation of 11Arches Park, Binchester Earth enhancements, and the Bishop Gateway infrastructure, the development will attract significant visitor numbers, stimulate economic growth, and reinforce the town’s identity as a leading heritage and leisure destination.”
Durham County Council will consider the proposals at a later date.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
