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Planning permission granted for new £2.5m Auckland Castle tourist attraction

Ambitious plans that will see Auckland Castle turned into a premier North East visitor attraction can now forge ahead following the granting of planning permission for a multi-million pound Welcome Building.

The news that Durham County Council has approved the visually stunning £2.5m structure on Bishop Auckland marketplace with its 29m tower and observation platform, marks the first key step in the development of the centuries old site.

It means the Auckland Castle Trust can now begin moving forward with its plans to transform the former home of England’s only Prince Bishops into a nationally important heritage centre.

The news will hopefully be followed by the further £17m regeneration of what is one of Britain’s most important ancient buildings, with the county council expected to rule on this planning application in the coming days.

The announcement on the Welcome Building has been met with delight by the Auckland Castle Trust, the charitable group behind the proposed schemes.

The work of the Auckland Castle Trust over the last two years has created 40 jobs, with 80% of those employed living within 20 miles of the castle. Moreover, further jobs will now come.

Simon Davis, Project Manager for the Auckland Castle Trust, said: “The news is very exciting. It’s the first piece in the jigsaw of what is an ambitious three year development plan for Auckland Castle.

“Auckland Castle Trust has big and bold plans that have enormous potential to transform not just this site but the surrounding area.

“Getting the go-ahead for the Welcome Building adds to the sense that Bishop Auckland’s time is coming again.”

Operations Director Liz Fisher added: “The news that we can now proceed with the Welcome Building is a fantastic achievement for the design team and the castle.

“Over the past 12 months we have been working closely with key stakeholders to listen to their views. As a result we have designed a Welcome Building that is bold, a great design and a real statement of our future plans and ambitions.”

Work is anticipated to start on the Welcome Building this August and take 12 months to complete.

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