Milburngate developer Allan Cook welcomed His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO to share his passion for contemporary architecture by taking a tour of the £120m first phase of the regeneration project in Durham City.
His Royal Highness, who practiced as an architect, visited the six-acre living, working and leisure destination, which is currently under construction on the city’s riverside, where he unveiled a commemoration stone to mark his visit.
On arrival, the Duke was greeted by representatives from the Arlington Richardson Development Partnership, which is developing Milburngate, contractor Tolent and key members of the project team, including the architects behind its design.
Phase one, which includes a boutique cinema, 92-bed Hotel, 153 apartments, 53,000 ft office building along with premium bars and restaurants including Bar + Block, has been sensitively designed to compliment its setting whist respecting its location within a UNESCO world heritage city.
Architects FaulknerBrowns has also designed Milburngate to incorporate high-quality public realm from which to enjoy stunning new views of the city’s riverside and historic castle and cathedral as well as providing a new direct route to Durham railway station.
Milburngate continues the high-quality regeneration of Durham’s riverside, which was set by the developers with the construction of HM Passport Office and National Savings & Investment facility at Freemans Reach on the opposite bank of the River Wear.
Allan Cook, Managing Director of Arlington Real Estate, said: “We were truly honoured to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester to see the great progress we are making in delivering Milburngate during these challenging times.
“Maximising the economic and social benefits this fabulous riverside site will bring to both Durham City and the wider North East has taken some real architectural, construction and engineering skill, which His Royal Highness, as an experienced architect, really appreciated.”