'Milburngate Talks' Retail & Leisure

With Covid-19 impacting on all sectors, part 2 of the latest episode of 'Milburngate Talks' sees JLL’s Nick Ferris and Neil McMillan continue their discussion about how the retail and leisure market is adapting.

'Milburngate Talks' Retail & Leisure

In part 1 of the latest episode of our 'Milburngate Talks' series, we caught up with JLL’s Nick Ferris and our very own Neil McMillan, to discuss how the retail and leisure market is responding to the impact of Covid-19.

Waddington Street Centre Makeover Complete

A makeover project delivered by the developers of Milburngate and North East construction company Tolent at Durham mental health charity, the Waddington Street Centre, has been completed, giving the building a fresh new look in preparation for reopening following the coronavirus lockdown.

A makeover project delivered by the developers of Milburngate and North East construction company Tolent at Durham mental health charity, the Waddington Street Centre, has been completed, giving the building a fresh new look in preparation for reopening following the coronavirus lockdown.

Waddington Street Centre is a small independent mental health resource centre with almost 40 years’ experience offering a wide range of informal educational activities and support services based on individual needs and aspirations. It plans to reopen during August and the lockdown provided the opportunity to update the interior of the centre.

The project involved redecorating the main communal areas of the centre, helping to provide a refreshed environment that promotes positive mental health for members when they begin to return.

Waddington Street Centre is within a mile from the landmark Milburngate development, which is being delivered by a joint venture partnership between Arlington Real Estate and Richardson, supported by a £120 million forward funding commitment from LaSalle Investment Management.

Allan Cook, managing director of Arlington Real Estate, said: “The Waddington Street Centre does some fantastic work with the local community in Durham. We have all been affected in some way by the ongoing global pandemic, and we were delighted to be able to offer some support to those who need it in our communities.

“We hope the redecoration helps provides a really welcome environment to its members who benefit from its services when they return.”

Ali Lee, Centre Manager at Waddington Street Centre, said: “We are really pleased with the new look of the Centre, and the effort that Milburngate and Tolent have put into the project is very much appreciated. It is essential for us to be able to provide and environment which makes people feel valued and fosters positive mental health, and the new look helps us to achieve that.

“Now that the lockdown restrictions are beginning to be relaxed, we are looking forward to welcoming back our members, many of whom have been socially isolated and struggling with their mental health during this difficult time.

“We look forward to rebuilding our service and the centre’s fresh new look will be a wonderful gift for our members.”

Andy McLeod, CEO of Tolent, said: “It was a pleasure to be given a tour around the centre and see the difference our donation has made to the look and feel of the place. We're committed to making a difference to the communities we work in, and I know those who use the centre will be eager to return after what has been a challenging few months.”

Once fully reopened, Waddington Street Centre operates Monday to Saturday and one Sunday per month, as well as four evenings per week.

For more information, please visit: https://www.waddingtoncentre.co.uk/.

Milburngate to give the Waddington Street Centre a makeover

The developers of Milburngate and North East construction company Tolent have joined forces to help Durham mental health charity, the Waddington Street Centre, with a building makeover, in preparation for reopening after COVID restrictions are lifted.

With the help of a generous donation, the project will involve redecorating the main communal areas of the centre, helping to provide a refreshed environment that promotes positive mental health for members when they begin to return.

Waddington Street Centre is a small independent mental health resource centre with almost 40 years’ experience offering a wide range of informal educational activities and support services based on individual needs and aspirations.

Among the services offered by Waddington Street Centre are arts, crafts, writing and music workshops, as well as yearly exhibitions and performances, all of which are designed to help members improve their mental health and socially connect with each other.

It also has a partnership with New College Durham, running courses to help members develop soft skills to help them with their recovery.

Waddington Street Centre is within a mile from the landmark Milburngate development, which is being delivered by a joint venture partnership between Arlington Real Estate and Richardson, supported by a £120 million forward funding commitment from LaSalle Investment Management.

The site, currently under construction, is situated on the banks of the River Wear in the heart of Durham City. Phase One of Milburngate will feature a mix of premium leisure operators, such as Everyman Cinema and Miller & Carter, as well as 153 built-to-rent apartments, a high specification office building and a 92-bed Premier Inn hotel.

Steve Wakefield, assistant manager at Waddington Street Centre, said: “We’re really grateful for the support from Milburngate and Tolent. We want to provide an environment which makes people feel valued and fosters positive mental health. For many of our members, our centre is a haven from the stresses of home, illnesses and the wider community.

“Lockdown has been difficult for many of our members who are socially isolated. Due to the pandemic more people than ever are struggling with their mental health and we expect to see an increase in referrals.

We look forward to rebuilding our service and the centre’s fresh new look will be a wonderful gift for our members.”

Allan Cook, managing director of Arlington Real Estate, said: “After hearing about the great work that the Waddington Street Centre does for the people of Durham, and in light of its proximity to Milburngate, I was keen to help during what is a particularly difficult time for local charities.

“The building has lots of character and I am sure our team will help create a new welcoming environment for the centre’s members to benefit from its services and the excellent support it provides. I hope that once it can reopen, the members of Waddington Street Centre will enjoy the space and the new look of the service.”

Andy McLeod, CEO of Tolent, said: "We're always looking for ways to enrich the communities we work in, to bring a greater social value to our developments.

“We can all appreciate the impact the ongoing global pandemic is having on the most vulnerable within our communities and I'm delighted that this fantastic centre will be able to maximise this donation to ensure its members can look forward to its much needed reopening.”

Once fully reopened, Waddington Street Centre operates Monday to Saturday and one Sunday per month, as well as four evenings per week.

For more information, please visit: https://www.waddingtoncentre.co.uk/.

Major civil engineering feat at Milburngate

One of the region’s largest and most sophisticated civil engineering feats has completed on Durham’s Riverside as progress continues on the £120m Milburngate development.

Measuring 236 metres - the equivalent of nearly three football pitches - the construction of the three-storey retaining wall has taken 10 months to complete. Using approximately 20,000m3 of concrete, it required the use of one of the largest piling rig in the UK.

The completion of the wall was a crucial part of the development enabling the various elements of the working, living and leisure destination to take shape.

Continuing safely throughout the ongoing global pandemic, the project’s main contractor, Gateshead-based Tolent has completed around 60 percent of the concrete super structure, which provides the primary support of the three, seven-storey apartment blocks that will now begin to be constructed.

With the structural steel frame of the 92-bed Premier Inn Hotel almost complete, this week also sees the arrival of the second of three tower cranes on site. The steel and concrete works carried out over the last few months have all been completed by local companies based within a 10-mile radius of the development including Finley Structures and Wyn Construction.

Milburngate is being developed by a joint venture partnership between Arlington Real Estate and Richardson, supported by a £120 million forward funding commitment from LaSalle Investment Management.

Phase One of the development will feature a mix of premium leisure operators, such as Everyman Cinema and Miller & Carter, along with 153 built-to-rent apartments, a high specification office building, One Milburngate, and the Premier Inn hotel.

Allan Cook, Managing Director of Arlington Real Estate, said: “We are really pleased with the progress we are making at Milburngate and this significant civil engineering project will be a catalyst for the next stage of the development of Phase One.

“Developing a site of this scale next to a river in a historic city brings a range of challenges and we have been impressed with the innovation and expertise of Tolent and its supply chain to successfully deliver this major part of the construction of Milburngate.”

Andy McLeod, CEO for Tolent, said: “Our foundations are in the civil engineering sector and our teams continue to deliver exceptional standards of work now, as they have for some forty years.

“Working collaboratively with our client and supply chain partners Billinghurst George & Partners and Volker Ground Engineering, we created an innovative solution to deliver the retaining wall as you see it today - something that was initially deemed unachievable. A great achievement for all involved.”

Durham’s riverside continues to evolve

Durham city’s riverside continues to evolve as two multi-million pound developments take shape.

Construction work on Milburngate and Durham County Council’s new headquarters are taking shape as the city’s riverside continues to evolve. 

Taking place during the next 18 months, the first phase of Milburngate will include the addition of an Everyman boutique cinema, a 92-bed flagship Premier Inn Hotel along with premium bars and restaurants such as Bar + Block and Miller and Carter.

The structural steel erection of the Premier Inn Hotel is under way, along with the construction of the Everyman Cinema screens building and adjacent restaurant units. Further foundations of parts of phase one are also being laid, along with drainage and piling works to the areas of the site.

To ensure safe working conditions, Milburngate’s main contractor Tolent has implemented enhanced site operating procedures that include the reduction of the number of people on site and the staggering of shifts and break times.

Allan Cook, Managing Director of Arlington Real Estate, part of the Arlington / Richardson JV developing Milburngate, said: “This is a unique and challenging time and we are working closely with Tolent to consistently review and evolve safety procedures, ensuring the safety of everyone on site as we follow government guidelines to continue the construction of Milburngate.”

Andy McLeod, Chief Executive of Tolent, said: “The safety of our staff is paramount and by administering rigorous social distancing and health and safety protocol, we are able to safely continue work in some areas of the site.”

Alongside the leisure offering, the development will include 53,701 sq ft of Grade A office space within One Milburngate, which is expected to create up to 400 jobs in the city, and 153 built-to-rent apartments.

Across the river, work to build the council’s new headquarters started in August last year and will replace the local authority's current building at Aykley Heads. 

The development, which is being completed by Kier Property, will include a council chamber, cafe and new civic square that will be linked to the Penny Ferry Bridge.

A spokesperson for Kier Property said: “In the coming months we will continue with the installation of precast concrete floors and wrapping the external envelope before work starts on the internal elements of the building.

“The health, safety and welfare of our people is paramount and, as a responsible business, we have reviewed our sites to ensure they can operate in a way which continues to comply with the construction leadership council’s site operating procedures, which are based on the guidance issued by Public Health England.

“Following this review, the sites that are able to comply with these procedures, which includes Durham County Council headquarters, continue to be operational.”

Milburngate Progress Update

In accordance with Government guidance and advice from Public Health England, work on phase one of Milburngate is currently ongoing.

The development’s main contractor Tolent has implemented enhanced Site Operating Procedures, issued by UK construction industry body, Build UK, to protect its workforce.

This includes revising work programmes to reduce the number of people on site, as well as full-time cleaning services and staggering shifts and break times. To ensure effective social distancing modified risk assessments are undertaken, alongside one-way access to work areas.

With these procedures in place, some works are continuing on site, including the structural steel erection for the Premier Inn hotel, continued construction of the Everyman Cinema screens building and adjacent restaurant units. Further foundations for parts of phase one will also continue to be laid, along with drainage and piling works to areas of the site.

Allan Cook, Managing Director of Arlington Real Estate, part of the Arlington Richardson JV developing Milburngate, said: “This is a unique and challenging time and we are working closely with Tolent to consistently review and evolve safety procedures, ensuring the safety of everyone on site as we follow government guidelines to continue the construction of Milburngate.”

Andy McLeod, Chief Executive of Tolent, said: “The safety of our staff is paramount and by administering rigorous social distancing and health and safety protocol, we are able to safely continue work in some areas of the site.”

68m tower crane installed at Milburngate

Members of the construction team at the Milburngate development will get some of the best views of Durham City and the surrounding area following the installation of a 68-metre-tall lifting tower crane.

Positioned at the heart of the six-acre site on Durham’s Riverside, the Saez S-65 crane, which is taller than the Leaning Tower of Pisa, will play an instrumental role in the construction of the first phase of Milburngate over the next 18 months.

In fact, the crane has been positioned in what will be the location of one of the four Everyman boutique cinema screens with the building being constructed around the base of the crane until close to completion when it will be dismantled.

Supplied by London Tower Cranes, it is controlled by an operative in a cab at the apex of the tower and jib and is directed by a banksman at ground level via radio.

With a ten-tonne capacity, the tower crane will support logistical operations for the construction of Milburngate, which is being delivered by main contractor Tolent, and specifically includes the creation of the development’s concrete core that will form key elements of Phase One.

Covering 70 percent of the entire Milburngate site, Phase One, includes, in addition to the boutique cinema, a 92-bed flagship Premier Inn Hotel along with premium bars and restaurants such as Bar + Block and Miller & Carter.

Alongside its leisure offering, the development will include 53,701sq ft of much-needed Grade A office space within One Milburngate, which will help attract up to 400 jobs to the centre of Durham City and 153 built-to-rent apartments.

Milburngate is being developed by a joint venture partnership between Arlington Real Estate and Richardson, supported by a £120 million forward funding commitment from LaSalle Investment Management.

Ian Beaumont, Project Director for Milburngate, said: “We have made good progress on the early stages of Milburngate, and this tower crane will facilitate the construction of some of the main elements of Phase One.  It certainly is an impressive sight on the Durham City skyline and highlights the size and scope of Milburngate and its importance to the future social and economic future of the riverside.”

Michael Rutherford, Project Director for Tolent, said: “The arrival of the first of three tower cranes on site at Milburngate marks a significant milestone in our construction activity. Over the coming months, the site will really start to take shape as the various elements within the development start to become more visible. We've been working continuously over the past 10 months with our experienced civil engineering team to ready and prepare the site and we're now really starting to see the vision of Milburngate become a reality.”

Cllr Carl Marshall, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “Anyone who drives through Durham cannot fail to notice the arrival of the tower crane. It’s a particularly symbolic addition to the city’s skyline as it marks the start of phase one of the Milburngate development, which will bring more than 400 new jobs to Durham.

“Over the next 10 years, we’re expecting to see £3.4 billion of investment in the county, creating more and better jobs through developments such as Milburngate. By continuing to provide an environment that attracts investment and supports growth, we hope to be able to support the creation of 30,000 new jobs across County Durham during the next 15 years.”

'Milburngate Talks' Retail & Leisure

Durham's a bustling retail and leisure destination that attracts customers from across the region and beyond. Check out our latest Milburngate Talks film, where Jojo Hatfield catches up with of some the city's thriving brands.

Located on the banks of the River Wear in the heart of Durham city centre, Milburngate presents retail and leisure occupiers with a range of high-specification units, all set within a stunning 450,000 sq ft mixed-use development that will also feature more than 200,000 sq ft of office space, as well as 153 luxury apartments.

Already we've set the bar high, attracting prestigious tenants including Everyman Cinema, Miller & Carter and Bar+Block, as well as a 92 bed Premier Inn; all of whom have chosen Milburngate and Durham city centre as a place to benefit from its high footfall, vibrant culture, rich heritage and the millions of visitors who choose to visit each year.

Indeed, Durham city centre is home to a diverse range of quality retail and leisure operators, all of whom are benefitting from locating in the city. From premium national brands, to rapidly expanding regional independents, all of those that choose to invest in Durham city centre are enjoying great success.

'Milburngate Talks' Everyman

Further to Everyman increasing their boutique cinema offering to four screens at Milburngate, we caught up with Anna Coates, manager of their Newcastle venue, to hear more about why they're so excited about coming to Durham.

Lumiere photo competition winners announced!

Hilary Ratcliffe's Winning Image Of Mysticète

Milburngate has unveiled the stunning images from the winners of its Lumiere festival photography competition.

Elizabeth Woods’ Winning Lumiere Image

Scooping the prize for the best overall Lumiere photo was Elizabeth Woods, a singing teacher for Durham Music Service, for her shot of the Harmonic Portal installation.

The Harmonic Portal, a piece by Durham-based artist, Chris Plant was a mesmerising meditation on sound, light and texture, located at Castle Chare and Tenter Terrace, next to St Godric’s Church. The photograph, which was taken on Elizabeth’s mobile phone, portrays the beauty of the colour and light installation and includes the silhouette of her 12-year-old son Jonathan Woods.

Elizabeth Woods said: “The installation was beautiful and constantly changing colours, but this vibrant image stood out to me from all the photos I had taken. I am absolutely delighted to win and overwhelmed with all the social media shares and public response received through the voting process.”

The competition also offered a prize to the best image of the Milburngate-sponsored installation, Mysticète, created by design agency Top ‘la’ Design, led by creative director Catherine Garret.

The winner, Hilary Ratcliffe, a first time Lumiere visitor from Whitley Bay, is an examiner and tutor, and a keen wildlife and bird photographer. Her spectacular winning image, taken on a Canon 5D Mark iv, captured the stunning and strikingly life-like apparition of the whale emerging from the River Wear next to the Milburngate development site.

Hilary Ratcliffe said: “I am amazed, I love wildlife photography, but I never thought I would win my first competition with an image of a whale that’s not really there! However, the detail in the design of Mysticète really brought it to life and was a pleasure to capture on camera.”

More than 300 entries were submitted, with a shortlist displayed online before being judged by a Milburngate panel led by Gary Lintern, who specialises in dark sky photography.

Both winners picked up a prize of £250 worth of vouchers for Ramside Hall hotel and spa. Gary Lintern said: “It’s not easy to take such great images at night and we were very impressed with the superb quality of submission for the competition and after much deliberation were able to agree on the final two exquisite winning photographs.

“Many congratulations to both Elizabeth and Hilary for capturing the essence of the spectacular artwork installations of Lumiere 2019 in the beautiful city of Durham”.

Matt Leigh, who is responsible for the marketing of Milburngate said: “We always work hard to make the most of our Lumiere sponsorship and our this competition was the perfect opportunity for the general public to showcase their skills in a way that captured the real beauty of the festival. We were delighted to receive so many superb entries and I hope people will agree that the two winning images really are worthy of taking first place in their respective categories.”

Everyman expands plans for Milburngate, increasing boutique cinema to four screens

Milburngate will offer visitors a greater choice of entertainment after Everyman Cinemas confirmed it is increasing the number of screens at Durham City’s landmark living, work and leisure destination.

Originally set to feature three screens, Everyman has committed to adding a fourth screen to the soon-to-be built boutique cinema, recognising its confidence in Durham City.

Everyman’s agreement to open a new-build cinema at Milburngate was its first move into the North East market, which was soon followed by establishing a venue in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in a converted building in Grey Street, which opened in May 2019.

With 31 locations, Everyman is one of the most innovative cinema operators in the UK, offering guests a very distinctive experience. The venues each feature unique and stylish cinema seating, a fully licenced bar, food, table service and digital projection and surround sound technology.

In addition to showing the latest cinema releases, Everyman offer a broad programme of films and special events including film festivals, seasons and live Q&As.

The Everyman cinema will be a cornerstone of phase one of Milburngate, which is being developed by a joint venture partnership between Arlington Real Estate and Richardson, supported by a £120 million forward funding commitment from LaSalle Investment Management.

Currently under construction on the banks of the River Wear in the heart of Durham City, Milburngate will feature, in addition to Everyman, a mix of premium leisure operators, such as Miller & Carter, as well as 153 built-to-rent apartments, a high specification office building, One Milburngate, and a 92-bed Premier Inn hotel.

Crispin Lilly, CEO at Everyman, said: “We have been very encouraged by the popularity of our venue in Newcastle and we are confident there will be the same buzz around our boutique cinema at Milburngate. Our venues provide an intimate and attractive space offering a diverse line up of films and events, together with quality food and drink, which guests will be able to enjoy in our expanded Milburngate cinema.”

Ben Holmes, director on behalf of Richardson, said: “The Everyman team share our vision for Milburngate to become a landmark leisure destination for the North East, and expanding its plans for their Durham boutique cinema is a real endorsement of its commitment to the area and our development.”

Allan Cook, Managing Director of Arlington Real Estate, said: “The interest in Durham as a social and leisure destination is definitely building, which is evident in Everyman’s decision to increase the number of screens at Milburngate. Their unique approach of offering guests not just a movie but a great night out is growing in popularity across the country and we are delighted that Milburngate will be bringing this to Durham”

Milburngate launches Lumiere photography competition

Milburngate will celebrate the creative talents of visitors to Lumiere this week with a special photography competition.

Open to everyone from absolute novices to promising and experienced photographers, the competition is encouraging people to upload their photos of the festival to category websites where they will be judged by the public and an expert panel.

The competition is looking for the best photo taken at the festival, as well as a second category focused on the Milburngate-sponsored installation, Mysticète the life-like apparition of a whale that will appear in the River Wear.

The winners of each category will win a £250 gift voucher to spend at the luxury 4-star spa hotel, Ramside Hall in County Durham.

Across the four days of the festival, creative photographers will have a choice of 37 spectacular artwork installations located throughout the city to select as the subject for their competition entries in the ‘Best Photograph of Lumiere 2019’ category.

The second category, ‘The Best Photo of Mysticète 2019’, will challenge photographers to produce striking images of the whale, which has been created by design agency Top ‘la’ Design, led by creative director Catherine Garret, and is one of a collection of returning installations to mark Lumiere’s 10th anniversary.

The public can view the competition entries on two specially created websites where they can choose their favourite. The images will also be judged by a panel led by Gary Lintern, who specialises in dark sky photography, who is also leading a series of sold-out night-time photography workshops during Lumiere in partnership with Milburngate.

Gary said: “Lumiere will be an inspirational experience for everyone who visits Durham this week and I am sure will produce some absolutely fantastic photographs for the competition. No matter what experience entrants have they stand a chance of winning because they will bring their own personal style and talent to their photographs; I can’t wait to see them!”

Matt Leigh, who is responsible for the marketing of Milburngate said: “As part of our sponsorship, we’re offering the general public the chance to take part in a competition that we hope they really enjoy. The festival is such as visual spectacle we’re confident people will capture some fantastic shots during Lumiere, irrespective of how experienced they may be. All you need is a smart phone or a camera to take part and we hope entering this competition adds to the excitement the festival offers the many thousands of visitors coming to the city this week.”

To upload photos for the competition and vote on the entered images, visit:

Lumiere Image Upload:

photographyexperiences.wishpondpages.com/lumiere

Mysticete Image Upload:

photographyexperiences.wishpondpages.com/mysticete

Winners will be announced in early December.

'Milburngate Talks' Mysticète

Hear more from Mysticète creator, Catherine Garret, who reveals more about the inspiration and story behind the magical whale installation that makes its return to Lumiere this November.

Mysticète is the first of several popular returning artworks to be announced. The mesmerising 3D projection of a Baleen whale emerging out of the water, created by design agency Top’là and visual artist Catherine Garret, was a much-loved feature of Lumiere Durham 2015. For the festival’s 10th anniversary edition, happening from 14th to 17th November 2019, Mysticète will resurface on the River Wear at a new location north of Pennyferry Bridge.

Mysticète’s remarkable lifelike animation by Domenico Spano is complemented by an evocative soundtrack by Laurent Frick. The artwork’s environmental message, reminding visitors of the vulnerable beauty of nature and their duty to protect the earth’s inhabitants, has only become more pertinent since the whale last appeared four years ago.

Catherine Garret said: “I have always loved the strength, grace and majesty of whales - I first imagined Mysticète as a ballet. To me it’s important that feel we are a part of nature rather than separate from it, and that by taking care of the Earth and living things we are taking care of ourselves.

“In light of the environmental issues and natural disasters we are currently experiencing, Mysticète feels even more relevant than when it came to Lumiere in 2015. I want to create a bond between nature and everyone who sees the work, especially children. When you look at their spellbound faces, you realise they are the generation we are passing our world onto.”

Helen Marriage, Artistic Director of Artichoke, said: "Mysticète was such a hit with Lumiere audiences last time and I am so thrilled we’re able to present it in Durham again as part of the 10th anniversary edition. Mysticète’s magic is its ability to connect us with nature and show us a different way of looking at the world. I hope it will inspire our festival audience and be a fitting reminder of the preciousness of our world in this time of environmental crisis."

Lumiere, commissioned by Durham County Council and produced by arts charity Artichoke, will take place from 14th-17th November 2019. The full Lumiere programme, including additional festival favourites and exciting new works, will be announced on 17th October 2019.

You can find out more about Lumiere here https://www.lumiere-festival.com.

'Milburngate Munch' to refuel Lumiere visitors

Milburngate is launching a pop-up food event on Durham’s Riverside offering a variety of dishes and drinks for visitors to the 10th anniversary Lumiere Festival.

Based at the Milburngate development site next to the Radisson Hotel and Penny Ferry Bridge on the River Wear, ‘Milburngate Munch’ will run throughout the light festival, which takes place next week.

‘Milburngate Munch’ will bring together a collection of stalls operated by specially selected North East traders serving a range of quality hot food and drinks.

Among them will be a stall run by Sedgefield’s highly respected restaurant, The Impeccable Pig and Sunderland-based mobile wood fired pizzeria, Truly Madly Pizza. Also available will be stalls serving halloumi fries, scampi & chips and fish finger sandwiches along with hot drinks including Illy Coffee.

Perfectly positioned close to a number of the festival’s stand-out art installations on the riverside, including the giant glowing slinky toy, ‘End over End’, which will be on the Milburngate site, majestic whale, ‘Mysticete’ just a few metres away on the River Wear and ‘Blue Skies’ underneath Milburngate Bridge, ‘Milburngate Munch’ offers an ideal pit-stop for Lumiere visitors on their tour of the city.

Complementing the wider food and drink offering across Durham City available to visitors during Lumiere, ‘Milburngate Munch’ is part of the continued support of the festival by the developers of the living, working and leisure destination, Arlington Real Estate and Richardson.

The Milburngate development team has been a key supporter of Lumiere since the very first festival in 2009 with Arlington Real Estate Managing Director Allan Cook Chair of the Lumiere Durham Development Board.

Allan Cook said: “Milburngate Munch will offer a great place for Lumiere visitors to grab a bite to eat and a hot drink on their tour round the festival. We’ve brought together a great selection of local restaurants and traders who will offer some fantastic warm comfort to festival goers at Milburngate when they visit the riverside to see some of the amazing installations hosted there.”

‘Milburngate Munch’ will be open to Lumiere visitors throughout the festival on the following times:

Thursday 14th November: 4pm-11pm

Friday 15th November: 4pm-11pm

Saturday 16th November: 1pm-11pm

Sunday 17th November: 1pm-11pm

You can find ‘Milburngate Munch’ at:

Milburngate, Durham, DH1 5TQ.

Talent, connectivity, work-life balance

Exceptional connectivity, access to talent and offering staff a perfect work-life balance are key when it comes to making decisions about choosing your next office.

Hear more from Cushman & Wakefield's Greg Davison about why One Milburngate provides all of these benefits and more, in one of the north east's most exciting developments.

One Milburngate is a unique opportunity for your business to enjoy a bespoke office solution in the north east’s most prestigious development, with convenient access to some of the region’s finest talent and skills. Ready for occupation in the first quarter of 2021, One Milburngate will offer 53,701 sq ft of Grade A office space, available in flexible floor plates of up to 10,445 sq ft and suites upwards of 3,948 sq ft.

Situated at the heart of Durham, the Milburngate development, which is now under construction, will deliver much-needed office space to the city to attract new investment and support the creation and retention of more than 400 jobs.

One Milburngate has been designed by award-winning architects, FaulknerBrowns and will offer occupiers high specification working environments, as well as an exceptional level of digital connectivity through its Wired Certified Gold Status.

The offices form part of a living, working, leisure destination on the banks of the River Wear and will feature a mix of premium leisure operators, such as boutique cinema Everyman Cinemas and steak restaurant Miller & Carter, alongside 153 built-to-rent apartments and a 92-bed Premier Inn hotel.

Greg Davison, Partner at Cushman and Wakefield said: “One Milburngate will set a new benchmark for office space in Durham, one that meets the changing needs of 21st Century business, not only through its design and exceptional infrastructure, but through its location too. Businesses will be able to capitalise on the many benefits associated with locating in Durham City, ranging from its unrivalled transport connectivity and access to a diverse range of skills and talents, most notably from the city’s outstanding university.

“It will provide the opportunity for employers to deliver an excellent work-life balance for their people, with its contemporary riverside environment and premium leisure offering alongside its position within the historic city of Durham.”

One Milburngate will be followed by a second phase of office development which will comprise a further 177,000 sq ft of space.

Milburngate Launches Lumiere Photography Workshops

Milburngate is helping photographers capture the perfect picture during the festival with a series of special night-time photography workshops.

As part of our sponsorship of the 10th anniversary edition of Lumiere, Milburngate is helping photographers capture the perfect picture during the festival with a series of special night-time photography workshops.

Taking place during the festival in Durham City in November, the workshops will be led by photographer and astronomer Gary Lintern, who specialises in dark sky photography, heritage sites and rural landscapes.

This is the first-time photography workshops have taken place during Lumiere, and will offer enthusiastic photographers of all abilities the chance to develop their night-time photography skills.

Open to absolute beginners and more experienced photographers, the workshops, which take place on Thursday 14th and Sunday 17th November, are part-funded by Milburngate and have 12 places available on each session.

The workshops will help photographers make their experience of Lumiere last a lifetime by giving them the opportunity to create stunning images of some of Lumiere’s amazing light installations, which will be located throughout the city.

Among them will be Mysticète by Catherine Garret and Top’là Design, the stunning and strikingly life-like apparition of a whale, which is sponsored by Milburngate, and will be appearing from the River Wear next to the Milburngate development site.

The installation, which originally appeared in Durham in 2015, is one of a collection of some of the most popular artworks from previous festivals, which are returning as part of Lumiere’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

Gary Lintern said: “This is an amazing opportunity for photographers to create vivid and high-quality images of Lumiere that will last a lifetime. I am really looking forward to working alongside photographers to share my experience and knowledge of shooting in low light locations, which will enable them to take photos that will do justice to the amazing light installations that the artists have created for Lumiere.”

Allan Cook, Managing Director of Arlington Real Estate, which along with Richardson, is developing landmark living, working and leisure destination Milburngate, said: “We’re delighted to work with Gary Lintern to host these unique workshops, which will make Lumiere extra special for those taking part.”

“We have been supporting Lumiere since the first festival was held in Durham in 2009 and this 10th anniversary will definitely be one to remember with some amazing new installations and some returning classics like Mysticète”.

The workshops will take place on Thursday 14th and Sunday 17th November, from 4.30pm – 7.00pm and 8.00pm to 10.30pm for a non-refundable booking fee of £19.00.

Photographers will need to provide their own camera, ideally a DSLR or mirrorless, although bridge cameras are also suitable, and tripods are optional but will enable better shots.

To book your place please visit: https://photographyexperiences.co.uk/training/

Lumiere Programme Launched

We’re delighted to announce that the full programme of 37 artworks for Lumiere 2019 has now been revealed.

Created by Artichoke, the UK’s leading producers of art in the public realm, Lumiere runs from Thursday 14th - Sunday 17th November 2019. For the most ambitious edition of Lumiere yet, a selection of favourite artworks from previous festivals will sit alongside a host of new commissions by international artists and fresh talent from the North East.

Free to attend, the festival will reimagine the city through dramatic installations, dynamic projections and reflective works, which showcase the diversity and creativity of light art. The festival is commissioned by Durham County Council, with additional support from Arts Council England, Durham University and a host of further funders and supporters.

Lumiere 2019 marks 10 years since the festival first launched in Durham. This dazzling night-time spectacle has now become an unmissable fixture in the cultural calendar of the North East. While the number of artworks and visitors has continued to increase, the idea behind the festival — to bring art out onto the streets and cast the city in a new light — has remained steadfast.

Since the first edition, Lumiere has returned to the city every other year, as well as lighting up Derry~Londonderry in 2013, during its year as UK City of Culture, and London in 2016 and 2018. The festival has become an important part of Durham’s identity, so much so that it has become known as the ‘Place of Light’.

New to Lumiere

The 10th anniversary of Lumiere transform Durham into a magical winter nightscape with extraordinary new artworks and commissions, including interactive installations where audiences manipulate or become part of the art. Stones by artist collective Tigrelab Art (Spain) is a shape-shifting video-mapped projection onto the facade of Durham Cathedral, that visitors can change using stone tablets. Inspired by the coloured tiles that characterise so many Portuguese cities, Human Tiles by Ocubo (Portugal) will transform the exterior of Gala Theatre & Cinema into a kaleidoscope of projected patterns created in response to the movements of visitors bodies in real-time. Tug at the rope that propels Amelia Kosminsky’s floating sculpture Celestial Brainstorm (UK) and release sparkling neurons will be released into the night sky; make music by rotating Stellar Projects’ The Stars Come out at Night (UK); and fly up and down in a playground of illuminated see-saws by Wave-Field Variation H by CS Design, L4 Studio (Canada).

Geometrical Traces by Javier Riera (Spain) will illuminate the city’s riverside tree canopies in a mesmerising new work that draws upon mathematical patterns found in nature. Deepa Mann-Kler (UK) brings her glowing balloon dog sculptures Neon Dogs previously seen at Lumiere London, as well as a new work similarly inspired by pop culture. Shoefiti draws upon the urban phenomenon of shoe tossing, with over 150 illuminated shoes strung along Durham’s streets in a playful nod to this mischievous practice. Squidsoup (UK)’s extraordinary immersive work Wave - featuring 500 orbs of light and 500 voices – comes to the festival direct from its first exhibition at Burning Man in the Nevada desert earlier this year.

The four inventive artworks from the winners of the BRILLIANT competition will also be revealed. Penelope Payne (UK) brings a slice of summer to wintry Durham with Blue Skies, in her projection onto the underside of Milburngate Bridge. End over End, will remind everyone of childhood with this clever homage to the iconic slinky by Lucy McDonnell (UK); Washed Up, is a series glowing collages assembled from plastic reclaimed by Diane Watson (UK) from the beaches of the North East. A Different View by Mike Donaghy, provides a playful twist on the humble traffic light.

New community-led works

Artichoke have invited a range of community groups and individuals from across County Durham to take part in the creation of artworks for this year’s festival. Women residents at HMP Low Newton in Brasside have worked with poet Hannah Jane Walker (UK) to create The Next Page, a message for the future in neon displayed at Clayport Library. Meanwhile piano players of all ages will have the chance to see their music-making transformed into shape-shifting patterns on the facade of Rushford Court for Keys of Light by Mr.Beam (Netherlands).

Students from Durham Sixth Form Centre have collaborated with Ocubo (Portugal) & Storybox (New Zealand) on Are Atoms Alive? a fascinating short film displayed across nine shipping containers, whilst East Durham College students will reimagine the brutalist building Dunelm House with the new artwork Lift Off, a legacy piece from the Apollo 50 project in Peterlee earlier this year. Dan Shorten from Guildhall School of Music & Drama, who provided guidance for this project, is also bringing a Guildhall Live Events artwork - the immersive walkway Light Tunnel - to the festival.

Finally, young people from Parkside Academy in Willington and Tübingen in Germany have collaborated with schoolchildren worldwide to create the branches and flowers of Mick Stephenson (UK)’s Friendship Tree using recycled materials. The tree celebrates the spirit of collaboration and marks the 50th anniversary of Durham’s twinning with Tübingen.

Returning favourites

Lumiere 2019 will see the return of many past favourites from throughout the festival’s history. Two artworks from the very first edition of the festival will be making a comeback - Echelle, the pink neon ladder by Ron Haselden (UK/France), will appear in its original location on Saddler Street, whilst Bottle Festoon will pop up across the city. Over 900 children and adults haven taken part in drop-in workshops to create these dazzling chandeliers made from recycled bottles.

The giant glittering snow globe I Love Durham by Jacques Rival (France) joins the atmospheric sculpture Cloud, formed from 6,000 incandescent light bulbs by Caitland r.c. Brown & Wayne Garrett (Canada). Fire alchemists Compagnie Carabosse (France) return to illuminate Durham Cathedral and its surrounding grounds with Spirit, whilst Newcastle based creative studio NOVAK (UK) will once again transform Durham Castle into a fairytale village with Fool’s Paradise. The River Wear will welcome back Fogscape #03238, the mysterious nocturnal fog sculpture by Fujiko Nakaya (Japan) and Simon Corder (UK), whilst the majestic Mysticète by Top’là Design/Catherine Garret (France) will resurface upstream near Pennyferry Bridge.

Lumiere will also feature the return of two of the festival’s outstanding site-specific works - Cosmic Architecture by Nina Dunn & John Del’ Nero (UK) projected onto Durham University’s Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics and For the Birds, a collection of installations drawing visitors through the urban wilderness of Durham University’s Botanic Garden.

Five winning artworks from past editions of the BRILLIANT competition, launched in 2011 to support talent in the North East, are also included in the programme: Fusion by Mick Stephenson (UK); Sanctuary by Sarah Blood (UK); Big Knitting by Victoria MacLeod (UK); The Stars Beneath Our Feet by Louise Mackenzie (UK) and Harmonic Portal by Chris Plant (UK).

Installations on display for the duration of the festival join three permanent artworks which have already become part of the fabric of the city. Helvetictoc by Tobie Langel (Switzerland) has been telling the time in Millennium Place since 2013, while Lightbenches by Bernd Spiecker for LBO (Germany) has been encouraging passers-by to take the weight off their feet since 2015. Installed following Lumiere 2017, Heron by Jon Voss (France) continues to capture a fleeting moment in time - the unfolding wings of one of Britain’s most iconic birds.

Navigating the festival

Lumiere is open each night between 4.30pm and 11pm. The festival is completely free to attend and 26 of the 37 installations are accessible without a ticket at all times.

As in previous years, a peak-time ticketing system will be in operation for access into the central peninsula area between 4.30pm and 7.30pm each evening to allow visitors to have a comfortable experience. No-one needs a ticket to visit any area of the festival outside of peak hours.

Free peak hour tickets will be available to collect in person (maximum 6 per person) from Monday 28th October from Gala Theatre and Library and Leisure centres across the county. A number of tickets will be available online on the Lumiere website from Monday 28th October lumiere-festival.com.

This year a new Lumiere app is available, powered by This is Durham with support from Light Up the North, to help guide visitors around the festival and make the most of their visit to Durham. It can be downloaded for free at from the Apple app store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).

10th anniversary festival programmes priced £2 will be available from Thursday 17th October from Gala Theatre and ten Library and Leisure centres across the county. Programmes will also be available from the Lumiere Visitor Hub in Millennium Place. The Lumiere Visitor Hub will be open from Saturday 9th November between 11am and 5pm and between 12pm and 11pm from Thursday 14th November until Sunday 17th November and at several locations across the city during the festival’s four nights.

For more information, please visit www.lumiere-festival.com.

Lumiere Favourite Returns

Ahead of the full programme announcement on October 17th, we're delighted to reveal that we are sponsoring the return of Lumiere festival favourite Mysticète (the whale).

Mysticète is the first of several popular returning artworks to be announced. The mesmerising 3D projection of a Baleen whale emerging out of the water, created by design agency Top’là and visual artist Catherine Garret, was a much-loved feature of Lumiere Durham 2015. For the festival’s 10th anniversary edition, happening from 14th to 17th November 2019, Mysticète will resurface on the River Wear at a new location north of Pennyferry Bridge.

Mysticète’s remarkable lifelike animation by Domenico Spano is complemented by an evocative soundtrack by Laurent Frick. The artwork’s environmental message, reminding visitors of the vulnerable beauty of nature and their duty to protect the earth’s inhabitants, has only become more pertinent since the whale last appeared four years ago.

Catherine Garret said: “I have always loved the strength, grace and majesty of whales - I first imagined Mysticète as a ballet. To me it’s important that feel we are a part of nature rather than separate from it, and that by taking care of the Earth and living things we are taking care of ourselves. In light of the environmental issues and natural disasters we are currently experiencing, Mysticète feels even more relevant than when it came to Lumiere in 2015. I want to create a bond between nature and everyone who sees the work, especially children. When you look at their spellbound faces, you realise they are the generation we are passing our world onto.”

Milburngate’s joint venture partner Arlington Real Estate's managing director Allan Cook, says: “We've been keen supporters of Lumiere since day one and we're thrilled to be sponsoring one of my personal favourite installations, Catherine Garret’s Mysticète, in the festival’s 10th year. We know what a crowd pleaser it has been in the past and with increasing awareness of the fragile nature of their natural habitat I am sure it will be well received again. Sponsoring events like Lumiere is a great opportunity for businesses like ours to work with the arts and cultural community to help showcase Durham as a great place to live, work and visit.”

Helen Marriage, Artistic Director of Artichoke, said: "Mysticète was such a hit with Lumiere audiences last time and I am so thrilled we’re able to present it in Durham again as part of the 10th anniversary edition. Mysticète’s magic is its ability to connect us with nature and show us a different way of looking at the world. I hope it will inspire our festival audience and be a fitting reminder of the preciousness of our world in this time of environmental crisis."

Cllr Simon Henig, Leader of Durham County Council, said: “When people talk to us about their favourite Lumiere installations, the ‘whale in the river’ comes up time and time again. We are delighted Mysticète is returning to Durham for Lumiere’s tenth anniversary edition. It will be a chance for the tens of thousands of people who admired it in 2015 to reconnect with it and for a whole new audience to marvel at its splendour.”

Lumiere, commissioned by Durham County Council and produced by arts charity Artichoke, will take place from 14th-17th November 2019. The full Lumiere programme, including additional festival favourites and exciting new works, will be announced on 17th October 2019.

You can find out more about Lumiere here https://www.lumiere-festival.com.

Milburngate Launches Speculative Offices

The developers of one of the North East’s largest mixed-use developments have officially launched their first speculative office building, One Milburngate, to meet the growing demand for high-specification offices in the city.

Situated at the heart of Durham, the Milburngate development, which is now under construction, will deliver much-needed office space to the city to attract new investment and support the creation and retention of more than 400 jobs.

Ready for occupation in the first quarter of 2021, One Milburngate will offer 53,701sq ft of Grade A office space, available in flexible floor plates of up to 10,445 sq ft and suites upwards of 3,948 sq ft.

One Milburngate has been designed by award-winning architects, FaulknerBrowns and will offer occupiers high specification working environments, as well as an exceptional level of digital connectivity through its Wired Certified Gold Status.

One Milburngate forms part of phase one of Milburngate, which is being developed by a joint venture partnership between Arlington Real Estate and the Richardson family, supported by a £120 million forward funding commitment from LaSalle Investment Management.

The offices form part of a living, working, leisure destination on the banks of the River Wear and will feature a mix of premium leisure operators, such as boutique cinema Everyman Cinemas and steak restaurant Miller & Carter, alongside 153 built-to-rent apartments and a 92-bed Premier Inn hotel.

Knight Frank and Cushman & Wakefield are acting on behalf of the developers to let the available office space One Milburngate, which they suggest is a timely solution to meet growing demand in the city.

Patrick Matheson, Partner at Knight Frank, said: “Durham City hasn't had a pipeline of new office developments for a number of years, but we know there is demand in the market from occupiers that understand the city is a viable place to do business.

“One Milburngate creates an opportunity for businesses to establish themselves in the heart of the North East within a premium new destination, which will be a catalyst for other developments in and around Durham City that will help attract more employers to the area.”

Greg Davison, Partner at Cushman and Wakefield added: “One Milburngate will set a new benchmark for office space in Durham one that meets the changing needs of 21st Century business, not only through its design and exceptional infrastructure, but through its location too. Businesses will be able to capitalise on the many benefits associated with locating in Durham City, ranging from its unrivalled transport connectivity and access to a diverse range of skills and talents, most notably from the city’s outstanding university.

“It will provide the opportunity for employers to deliver an excellent work-life balance for their people, with its contemporary riverside environment and premium leisure offering alongside its position within the historic city of Durham.”