New measures to protect a prominent city centre building in line for redevelopment have been welcomed following concerns it had become a “blight” on the historic area.
Durham County Council has vowed to clean up the former Yorkshire Trading Company unit on Silver Street, Durham, following concerns about the state of the site.
A new multipurpose STACK venue, hosting local food and drink traders and providing live events and entertainment, is due to open in the three-storey building in 2025.
Local businesses and stakeholders previously warned about the excessive amount of posters on the windows and called for the site to be made more appealing. The local authority was also urged to make changes ahead of the Remembrance Sunday events in the city.
!['Blight' high street building cleaned up ahead of redevelopment]()
'Blight' high street building cleaned up ahead of redevelopment (Image: The Northern Echo)
Councillor Susan Walker, chair of the City of Durham Parish Council, said: “Whilst the unit has rightly been secured for public safety for some time, the condition of the frontage in the interim has been a blight on the historic street scene of Silver Street.”
Specially designed boards will be erected while construction work takes place.
Cllr Walker added: “We are sure that residents and nearby businesses will very much welcome this new temporary frontage ahead of work starting on-site in the coming months.
Andy Kerr, head of economic development at Durham County Council, said: “Durham City has a world class heritage offer, and we’re committed to providing a vibrant thriving city centre and attracting new businesses such as Stack to invest.
“We understand the concerns about the appearance of the former Yorkshire Trading Company unit and have been on-site this week removing posters from the windows. We will also be painting the boards over the doorways dark grey to match the surrounding paintwork to improve the frontage ahead of the Remembrance Day commemorations.
“These measures will be replaced with specially designed boards featuring photographs of Durham City later this month. The new boards, which are being funded by Stack, will remain in place until the development begins. We’ve agreed this approach with Durham BID and the parish council and will continue to work with them and other partners to ensure Durham City thrives.”
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What is the new STACK development?
STACK says the new venue will create a “leisure and social community hub concept” that will “substantially contribute to the city centre’s overall vitality and viability, and support and enhance both its day and night-time economies”.
A new rooftop area has also been proposed, with a new shop front design like other STACK venues. On the ground floor, there will be eight food traders and two ground areas surrounding a central seating ‘plaza’ area. A stage will host live music and comedy.
There will be four more food traders and two more bars on the first floor, with the second floor designated for a games area.
Work on the site is due to begin in Easter 2025.
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