Views sought on Durham County Council’s proposed new riverside HQ

Durham County Council is calling on residents, businesses and other groups to have their say on its draft proposals for a new city centre HQ.

Earlier this year, the authority’s cabinet agreed on relocating to council-owned land on the riverside to make way for a business park development.

Aykley Heads, where the council is currently headquartered, is home to digital challenger bank Atom, the North East of England Chamber of Commerce, office space provider Salvus House and a raft of other businesses.

The scheme is a designated strategic employment site with the potential to attract 6,000 new private sector jobs worth £400m to the economy of County Durham.

For the delivery of phase two of Aykley Heads, the council needs to vacate its HQ.

Having chosen its car park on The Sands as the new headquarters location, Durham County Council is inviting the public to view and comment on the early draft proposals for the building, ahead of submitting a planning application.

The new home, to be built by Keir Property, would be one-third of the size of the Aykley Heads HQ. It will house 700 workstations and flexible work areas for 1,000 staff, as well as a council chamber and café.

An exhibition will be held at Freeman’s Quay leisure centre in Freeman’s Place from July 10-12.

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