A VISION for the future development of a prime riverside city centre site will go on public display next month.

Architects Howarth Litchfield Partnership have put forward proposals to revive a stretch of the River Wear banks, in Freeman's Place, Durham.

The site includes the former Durham ice rink, now housing the Kascada ten-pin bowling alley and Meridian health centre.

It is opposite the ongoing £30m Walkergate development.

The riverside proposals include 99 apartments on four and five levels, a caf-bar, retail facilities, a winter garden, heritage centre, riverside gardens and walkway to the Pennyferry Bridge, plus an open space/piazza, suitable for street theatre and mime artists.

The £20m-investment would also include 150 parking spaces in a sub-basement car park.

Senior partner Stephen Howarth said: "We are trying to bring vitality to that area, to bring back living and working in Durham."

A spokesman for Durham City Council confirmed a planning application has been lodged, but no date has been given for consideration by the planning committee.

Mr Howarth hopes the application will be on the planning committee agenda in time for its June meeting.

* Detailed plans, including computer-generated images, will go on public show at the Studio, at the Gala Theatre, on Thursday, May 12, from 9.30am to 4.30pm.