Durham City regeneration scheme takes shape with Premier Inn construction

A multi-million pound development in the heart of Durham has reached a ‘significant’ milestone with the construction of a new hotel.

Steel work for the new Premier Inn hotel has been completed at the Milburngate scheme in Durham City centre.

Containing 740 tonnes of British steel supplied by Finley Structures Ltd, the framework of the 92-bed room hotel has been completed by sub-contractors ahead of the next stage of development, which includes the installation of windows and weather tightening before internal works begin at the end of the year.

The hotel forms part of a wider project delivered by a joint venture partnership between Arlington Real Estate and Richardson and supported by a £120m forward funding commitment from LaSalle Investment Management.

It is estimated that the hotel, along with the new Whitbread’s Bar + Block Steakhouse restaurant, will create up to 75 jobs upon opening.

Allan Cook, managing director of Arlington Real Estate, commented: “This is an exciting moment for Milburngate as we are really starting to see phase one take shape with the completion of the steel work of the Premier Inn and the three apartment blocks which will see 153 build-to-rent apartments delivered right in the heart of the city.

“The Premier Inn and Bar & Block restaurant is an excellent fit for Milburngate, and we are really looking forward to completion of this phase of the development, which will create much needed additional hotel rooms for our city.”

Richard Aldread, head of construction for Premier Inn in the north of England, Scotland, and Ireland, added: “Milburngate is a fantastic development for Premier Inn to be part of in Durham.

“The new Premier Inn hotel will give our guests a prime location to stay in the city centre, a stone’s throw away from Durham’s historical colleges, and with lots of on-site leisure options to enjoy during their stay.

“We’re confident the Premier Inn hotel and Bar + Block restaurant will trade very well once we open our doors to guests and diners in 2022 and we can’t wait to become part of the community when we do.”