Milburngate developers rescue and restore royal emblem for HM Passport Office

A Royal emblem, which adorned the outside of Milburngate House for nearly 50 years, has been recovered and presented to Her Majesty’s Passport Office.

Milburngate will feature an Everyman Cinema and a range of premium restaurants and bars including a Pitcher and Piano.   The development will also include high-specification apartments and high-quality, energy-efficient office space.   

Steve Hunter, Project Director at Carillion Building, said: “The royal emblem reflects HM Passport Office’s long association with Durham City and we’re delighted to have successfully recovered it so it can be displayed and enjoyed by future generations of HM Passport employees and visitors.”

Neil Maughan from HM Passport Office, said: “We’re very grateful to Carillion and the Milburngate developers for saving and restoring the emblem.  It is an important part of our heritage, which will take pride of place in our new home at Freemans Reach.”

The metre-high aluminium emblem, which was added to the Milburngate House to mark its completion in 1968, was rescued by lead contractor, Carillion, during the building’s demolition, ahead of the creation of a new mixed-use development on the site in Durham City.

Having restored the emblem, whilst retaining the patina attained over the past 50 years, and mounting it on a glass frame, the developers of Milburngate presented it to the building’s former tenant, HM Passport Office, to be displayed at the organisation’s new offices at Freemans Reach.

The development of the site, which will create a new £150m living, working and leisure destination, Milburngate, is part of a significant regeneration of Durham’s riverside.

The consortium has already successfully delivered the regeneration of Freemans Reach on the opposite bank of the River Wear, which created new, sustainable offices for HM Passport Office and National Savings and Investments (NS&I) helping to retain more than 1,000 jobs in the city.  It was also the catalyst for the regeneration of the Milburngate House site.

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How Arlington and Carillion's city schemes are ‘raising the game

The Northern Echo:
Steven Hugill, Business Editor

REGENERATION bosses behind city development plans say they can be a blueprint for raising the game in the region.

“We see this as a real draw; Durham is situated nicely between the Tyneside, Teesside and Gateshead conurbations.

“We have got to raise the game; if we are competing on a national scale and pulling our weight in the UK, we have got to raise the game.

“There is not enough happening in the North-East and we feel we have a big role to play in that.

“Gateshead is an opportunity to offer high-end apartments, which will meet a growing demand.

“We are playing a long game.

“What we are doing requires some firm collaboration with local authorities and we are finding they are buying into it.

“They are around the table with us, with their sleeves rolled up.”

Mr McMillan was backed by Christopher Ives, development director at Carillion, who said the partnership’s work on DurhamGate was proof of what it can achieve.

He also confirmed he hopes it will have made good progress on the retail side of that project by the end of the year.

He added: “We are well on with the housing there and things are going well.

“We consider DurhamGate as a village in its own right and we have got to deliver more jobs.

“The amount of interest in it has been fantastic.”

The Arlington Real Estate and Carillion partnership is overseeing the Milburngate project, in Durham City.

It is also preparing plans to revitalise the former Brett Oils site in Gateshead into high-end living space.

Bosses told The Northern Echo the Durham riverside scheme, which features apartments, restaurants and bars, an Everyman Cinema and offices, will be a catalyst for new jobs and a stronger regional economy.

They also hope to submit a planning application for Brett Oils’ former base later this year, adding work on another development – DurhamGate, near Spennymoor, County Durham – is progressing well, with housebuilding set to be matched by a drive to strengthen its retail offering.

Neil McMillan, managing director of Arlington Real Estate, told the Echo the focus was purely about making the North-East a better place to live and work.

The consortium is re-developing the Milburngate House site, which was the former home of the Passport Office and National Savings and Investments, and has already re-invigorated nearby Freemans Reach to create new space for those two organisations, in a move officials say has retained more than 1,000 jobs in the city.

Referring to Milburngate, which the developers say will lead to the creation of more than 1,000 full-time jobs and support 650 construction jobs, Mr McMillan said: “We could have quite easily just done the norm but we have set out to do a lot better; it is about pushing the North-East forward.

“It’s fantastic to be bringing Everyman to the North-East.

“That really sets the tone for us in terms of the quality of the restaurants and bars we want to surround it with.

Milburngate Developers create new memorial daffodil display in Wharton Park

Photo caption: Left to right – Helen Attley (Milburngate), Cllr Neil Foster (centre) and Ann White (HM Passport Office)

The developers of Milburngate have teamed up with Durham County Council and Her Majesty’s Passport Office to create a new memorial daffodil display in Durham.

Helen Attley from the Milburngate development, said: “We are proud to be able to create this new memorial display with Durham County Council. It will be a fitting memorial to the loved ones of HM Passport Office staff and a beautiful addition to Wharton Park for local residents and visitors.”  

Ann White from HM Passport Office, said: “This is a lovely gesture by the developers of Milburngate and we would also like to thank Durham County Council for their support with the creation of this new memorial.   The daffodils outside our old offices were important to our staff so it’s really nice they have somewhere to go and enjoy the flowers and remember their loved ones.”

Cabinet Member for regeneration and local services, Councillor Neil Foster, said: “We were delighted to offer the Marie Curie Field of Hope memorial a new home at Wharton Park. These flowers have special significance for those who planted them and we hope that they continue to provide comfort for those staff members, while brightening the days of the many visitors and local people who come to enjoy the recently regenerated park with its new landscaping and facilities.”

The 500 daffodils will appear in Wharton Park replacing flowers that were originally planted in 2003 in the grounds of Milburngate House by HM Passport Office employees to remember lost loved ones.

Following the organisation’s move to Freemans Reach, on the opposite side of the River Wear, in 2016, and with its old offices currently being demolished to be replaced with the Milburngate development, a new location was required for the ‘Marie Curie Field of Hope’ memorial.  

The Milburngate team has donated the bulbs and has worked with rangers from Durham County Council to plant them in the park, at the North Road entrance next to the ‘Albert the Good’ statue, ready for the daffodils to bloom in the spring.

Milburngate is a landmark development that will feature a mix of luxury apartments, high quality offices, a boutique Everyman cinema and premium restaurants and bars.  Leading to the creation of more than 1,000 new jobs, Milburngate is being developed by Carillion, Arlington Real Estate and Richardsons Capital LLP.

Permission granted for the development of Milburngate

A CGI of the Milburngate development

The development consortium behind the regeneration of Durham City’s Riverside will embark on the next significant step of its masterplan after Durham County Council granted permission for the development of Milburngate.

Detailed planning permission was granted for Zone One of the Milburngate development, which includes the cinema, commercial and leisure units and 291 high quality new homes. The project also received outline planning permission for Zone Two and Zone Three of the development. 

Christopher Ives, Development Director at Carillion, said: “Milburngate will breathe new life into the site and continue the positive transformation of the riverside; it will also aid the social, economic and physical regeneration of Durham City. The support we have received from the local community and stakeholders has been very welcome and we look forward to delivering a scheme that will add value to Durham and the North East.”

Neil McMillan, Managing Director of Arlington Real Estate, said: “We are very proud to have the opportunity to regenerate this prominent location at the heart of Durham City. Milburngate will enhance the vitality and viability of the city, providing those who live, work and visit with more choice. 

“The calibre of the operators we are attracting, including Everyman, will add an experience and quality of offer not available in Durham and, indeed, in some instances not available in other parts of the North East. We believe this will increase the number of visitors to the City as consumers increasingly look for something different and unique.”

Milburngate will be a premium, mixed-use development, which will provide the opportunity for circa £160 million of inward investment and lead to the creation of more than 1,000 full-time jobs and 650 construction jobs. The redevelopment of the site will commence in spring 2017 following on from the demolition of the existing building, which is currently in its first stages.  

Featuring an Everyman Cinema as the cornerstone of its leisure offering, the riverside development will also host a range of premium restaurants and bars. Milburngate will also include high-specification apartments and high-quality, energy-efficient office space.    

The developers Arlington Real Estate, Carillion and Richardson Capital LLP, are also in the process of concluding lease agreements with a number of leisure operators with formal announcements expected shortly.       

Redeveloping the Milburngate House site, which was the former home of HM Passport Office and National Savings & Investments (NS&I), is the second key element of the regeneration of Durham’s Riverside.

The consortium has already successfully delivered the regeneration of Freemans Reach on the opposite bank of the River Wear, which created new, sustainable offices for HM Passport Office and NS&I helping to retain more than 1,000 jobs in the city.

Durham Resident marks the start of Milburngate House demolition

Photo caption: (left to right) Ben Harris (Thompsons) and Steve Hunter (Carillion), look on as David Glencorse starts the demolition of Milburngate House

A retired Durham County Council worker who witnessed the construction of Milburngate House in the 1960s has helped start the demolition of the building, which will pave the way for the creation of a premium, mixed-use development.

David joined the demolition team to start the process of transforming the site into the £150m Milburngate development, which will lead to the creation of more than 1,000 full-time jobs and 650 construction jobs.

Having progressed ahead with the internal strip out of the building, the contractors are now undertaking the 12-month demolition programme in preparation for the construction of Milburngate.

David Glencorse, 69, performed the ceremonial start of the external demolition of the former passport office, which will be delivered by North East specialists Thompsons of Prudhoe working in partnership with the regeneration project’s lead contractor, Carillion Building.

He began working as a clerk at County Hall in the Weights and Measures department in 1965, when Milburngate House was first being constructed, and regularly walked past the development on his way to the post office in Claypath to pay in funds for colleagues’ National Insurance stamps.  

Now living in Willington, after many years in Newton Hall, David spent 45 years in the Weights and Measures and Trading Standards departments at councils across the North East before retiring.

North East contractor appointed for demolition of Milburngate House.

Photo caption: Left to right, Ian Beaumont (Milburngate Project Manager), Steve Hunter (Project Director, Carillion Construction Ltd) and Helen Hillary (Director, Thompsons of Prudhoe) in front of Milburngate House.

The development consortium leading the regeneration of Durham City’s Riverside has appointed specialist contractor Thompsons of Prudhoe to undertake the demolition of the old Milburngate House building.

The development consortium, consisting of Carillion, Arlington Real Estate and Richardsons Capital LLP, has submitted a planning application to Durham County Council to create a premium, mixed-use development.

Featuring an Everyman Cinema as the cornerstone of its leisure offering, the riverside development will also host a range of premium restaurants and bars.  Milburngate will also include high-specification apartments and high-quality, energy-efficient office space.    

Helen Hillary, Director at Thompsons of Prudhoe, said: “We are proud to have been appointed to such a prestigious project in the North East.  The developers have a fantastic vision to transform Durham’s Riverside, which can be realised once this building has been removed.  We will utilise all of our experience and expertise to deliver a sustainable and environmentally-aware project taking into the consideration the site’s unique location.”Ian Beaumont, Milburngate Project Manager, said: “We are keen, whenever possible to engage a local supply chain for our projects and Thompsons of Prudhoe is a highly-respected and award-winning North East contractor.  

“The demolition is the first step in a significant regeneration project that will dramatically enhance Durham’s Riverside. The existing building has reached the end of its useful life, is very energy inefficient and is not suitable for conversion to other uses that will offer maximum benefit to Durham City.”

A national business based in Northumberland, Thompsons will deliver the 12-month demolition programme in partnership with Carillion Construction Ltd, the lead contractor on the Milburngate regeneration project, supporting around 70 local jobs.

Thompsons has more than 40 years’ experience in professional demolition services operating across the UK.  A member of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) since 1981, the company’s Managing Director, John Thompson Jnr, is a past Chairman of the body’s North East Region and is Regional Representative of the specialist trade body at its national level.

Thompsons won the coveted Construction News Demolition Specialist of the Year Award in 2014, and was shortlisted again in 2015 and 2016.

Employing 250 people, the company has a long association with Durham, including delivering the earthworks and site preparation for the Radission Blu Hotel, adjacent to Milburngate.

Following the completion of the internal strip out of the disused Milburngate House building, which is now in progress, Thompsons will then embark on the external demolition later this year.  

As a highly-experienced contractor in the sector, Thompsons will employ a range of methods to minimise the impact of the process, which will include the crushing and re-use of building materials in the site’s future development.

Demolition of the former Passport Office building, which has reached the end of its useful life and is highly energy inefficient, will enable the £150 million regeneration of the site on Framwelgate Waterside.

Plans submitted for Milburngate regeneration

A formal planning application has been submitted for the £150m regeneration of Milburngate House in Durham City.

Neil McMillan, Development Director at Carillion, said: “We are delighted to have submitted this application, which will mark the next major stage of the regeneration of the northern quarter of Durham City and help Milburngate become a location of regional significance attracting visitors from across the North East and beyond.”

“We have received a high level of positive support for our proposals from local people, which, together with the commitment from Everyman, provide a strong endorsement for our vision for the riverside.”

Allan Cook, Managing Director of Arlington Real Estate, said: “The regeneration of Milburngate House really is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it is a great privilege to be able to create something really special here in our native North East. Milburngate will be delivered by our long-standing and experienced team all of whom share a vision of transforming Durham’s Northern Quarter into a truly world class location.”

“Shaping such a large part of a World Heritage City Centre is a big responsibility, but I am confident that Milburngate, like Freemans Reach, before it will prove to be another exemplar development, which will see positive change for residents and visitors alike.”

The development consortium, consisting of Carillion, Arlington Real Estate and Richardsons Capital LLP, has made the application to Durham County Council for a premium, mixed-used development that will create 400 new homes on the city’s riverside.

The submission follows the announcement that Milburngate has been selected to be the location of the first Everyman boutique cinema in the North East after contracts were exchanged between the developers and the cinema operator.

Forming the cornerstone of Milburngate’s leisure offering, Everyman Cinema will be joined by a collection of premium restaurant and bar operators with whom the consortium are in advanced talks.

Alongside the leisure offering will be high-specification apartments, the majority of which will be available for long-term rental with the remainder available for private sale thereafter.

Milburngate will be complemented by up to 150,000 sq. ft. of high quality office space, incorporating sustainable and energy efficient design in keeping with its sister development at Freemans Reach on the opposite bank of the River Wear, which the consortium also recently completed.

Durham Riverside Renewal

The development consortium consists of Carillion, Arlington Real Estate and Richardsons Capital LLP.

“Durham is a lovely place to live. Beneath its glorious cathedral, you’ll find pretty cobbled streets stuffed with little independent shops and great watering holes, a beautiful river that carves its way through dramatic walls of rock and greenery, and some attractive house stock – along with a thriving buy-to-let market, thanks to all those students.

One of the nicest places to live is South Street, which looks directly onto the cathedral and castle, and which inspired Sir Walter Scott. Many of its terraced houses are grade II listed; prices range from £400,000 to more than £1m.”

Arlington Real Estate and Carillion also work in partnership on another flagship County Durham development, DurhamGate. Located five miles south of Durham City, DurhamGate is on the site of Black & Decker former UK headquarters and, at 60 acres, is the largest regeneration project in the North East.

The project includes the regeneration of Freemans Reach and the redevelopment of Milburngate House, which are on adjacent banks of the River Wear in the heart of Durham City.

According to the Sunday Times 2014 ‘Best Places to Live’ listing:

Photo caption: Everyman Cinema will open its first cinema in North East England at Milburngate 

 The Group had annual revenue in 2014 of some £4.1 billion, employs around 46,000 people and operates across the UK, in the Middle East and Canada. 

Carillion is a leading integrated support services company with a substantial portfolio of Public Private Partnership projects and extensive construction capabilities. 

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The Group has four business segments.

Support services – this includes facilities management, facilities services, energy services, utility services, road maintenance, rail services and consultancy businesses in the UK, Canada and the Middle East.

Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects - this includes investing activities in PPP projects for Government buildings and infrastructure, mainly in the Defence, Health, Education, Transport and Secure accommodation sectors.

Middle East construction services - this includes building and civil engineering activities in the Middle East.

Construction services (excluding the Middle East) - this includes building, civil engineering and developments activities in the UK and construction activities in Canada.

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This and other Carillion news releases can be found at www.carillionplc.com

A cinema for Everyman and woman

Contracts exchanged on new Everyman cinema at Milburngate

Durham City will see the first Everyman Cinema open in the North East of England.  The company currently has 16 sites across the UK with a further six boutique cinemas planned to open in the next 24 months.

In addition to showing the latest cinema releases, Everyman offer a programme of films and special events including film festivals, seasons and live Q&As.  The venues each feature unique and stylish cinema seating, a fully-licenced bar, food, table service and digital projection and surround sound technology.

Crispin Lilly, CEO at Everyman, said: “We're delighted to announce our plans for the arrival of a new Everyman at Milburngate. We're excited to become a destination for the local community to indulge in a great night out. Our venues are intimate spaces that offer a diverse range of film and events for all our guests along with great food and drink. We look forward to opening the doors in 2019."

The agreement precedes the submission of a planning application, this month, to Durham County Council for the development of the 5.3-acre site, which previously included the offices of Her Majesty’s Passport Office and National Savings and Investments.  

The developers of Milburngate in Durham City have exchanged contracts with Everyman Group for a new boutique cinema that will form a significant element of its major riverside regeneration scheme.

Expected to open in 2019, the three-screen, 384-seat Everyman Cinema will become an anchor tenant at Milburngate, a development that will feature a high quality mix of homes, offices, restaurants and bars.  In addition to the 13,242 sq. ft. cinema, Milburngate will feature 11 leisure units ranging from 2,120 sq. ft. to 7,189 sq. ft. 

The development consortium, which includes Carillion, Arlington Real Estate and Richardsons Capital LLP, is also in advanced discussions with a number of premium restaurant and bar operators, who like Everyman are keen to secure space within high quality schemes such as Milburngate.

Neil McMillan, Development Director at Carillion, said: “This agreement confirms our vision for Milburngate meets the aspirations of premium leisure operators.  Everyman Cinema’s high quality boutique offering will attract visitors to Durham from across the North East and enhance the city’s position as a key destination in the region.”  

Star Wars Rogue One: It set to build on last years success. Image: Disney

The opportunity to regenerate Milburngate has been made possible by both organisations transferring their operations to the opposite bank of the River Wear at Freemans Reach, a scheme also delivered by the development consortium.

Alongside the leisure offering will be 400 high-specification apartments, the majority of which will be available for long-term rental with the remainder available for private sale thereafter.  

Milburngate will be complemented by up to 150,000 sq. ft. of high quality office space, incorporating sustainable and energy efficient design in keeping with its sister development at Freemans Reach.

Allan Cook, Managing Director of Arlington Real Estate, said: “Durham City is undoubtedly a jewel in the North East crown and Milburngate will further reinforce its position as a premier destination.  

As a County Durham-based developer we are committed to driving regeneration in our region. Milburngate is one of a number of large scale projects we are delivering through our successful joint venture with Carillon, which includes sister development Freemans Reach and the 60-acre mixed use scheme, DurhamGate.”

The retail and leisure agent representing Milburngate is JLL; the office agent is Cushman & Wakefield and the investment agent is CBRE.

Nick Ferris, director at JLL, said: “Milburngate is a stand-out development for the North of England and the Everyman deal is testament to this. The scheme's unique location, architectural quality and stunning views have attracted considerable interest from the UK leisure market and we are currently in advanced negotiations with a number of high profile operators that share Everyman’s appetite to be part of Durham City's thriving economy."