Update regarding the proposed redevelopment of Prince Bishops Place Shopping Centre in Durham, which was granted planning permission in July 2024.
Public drop-in event in Unit 10 (former animal charity) at Prince Bishops Place on Thursday 5th February 17:30-20:00.
The approved scheme proposed the partial demolition of the existing shopping centre at mall level and above, with the exception of the service cores, the present ‘Next’ retail unit on the corner of High Street and Market Place, and the two existing three-storey office blocks which terminate onto Saddler Street. The project retained retail and leisure uses at “mall” level with a new public square and above this student housing over 2-3 storeys.
Since obtaining planning permission, Citrus has been working hard with their partners to realise a deliverable scheme and can now proceed with the redevelopment.
This means a number of minor changes are now proposed to the approved scheme, which require a new planning application. These include the replacement of the approved hotel with student accommodation, as well as minor alterations to the external façades of the development.
Ahead of the submission of this application, Citrus would like to discuss the latest plans with stakeholders and will be hosting a public drop-in event in Unit 10 (former animal charity) at Prince Bishops Place on Thursday 5th February 17:30-20:00.
The Trust recently had a helpful meeting with staff of Citrus Group, the owners of Prince Bishop Place. We discussed the changes they have made to the planned new development of the shopping centre in the light of the consultation they held in 2023. We also had a meeting with them during the 2023 consultation.
The changes to the design are summarised on their website:
The main focus of the design development over recent months has been changes to the configuration of the scheme, and the River Wear elevation in particular.
We’ve taken the decision to relocate the proposed hotel to a more viable location in the upper storeys of the Boots building on Market Place. In its place, student accommodation is now proposed above the multi-storey car park facing the river.
This has enabled us to adopt a more sympathetic architectural approach to the design of the river frontage, with pitched roofs and dormer windows better fitting the appearance of Durham City Centre as opposed to the flat roofed, more municipal-style architecture we consulted upon.
All of the other key attributes of the scheme we presented in Summer 2023 remain unchanged.
Citrus Group plan to submit the planning proposal in March. The Trust will, as usual, be commenting on this proposal.
Citrus Group, the new owners of Prince Bishops Place [aka the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre] are planning to redevelop the site. You can see their proposals on their website.
The Citrus Group are real estate investment and development company based in London.
They are conducting public consultations at the moment. There is an online survey and drop in events.
Drop in events
at Unit 4 (Former Fat Face), Prince Bishops Centre
- Wednesday 19th July 2023, 12:00 – 17:00
- Wednesday 9th August 2023, 12:00 – 17:00
