Why are we campagning?


In 2006 the University of Durham and Durham City Council jointly marketed a brown field site at Elvet Waterside, behind the Royal County Hotel on Old Elvet, which at present is the city swimming baths site and the university car parks for development. At the eleventh hour these two bodies decided to include the previously undeveloped greenfield site which incorporates Racecourse Park (the former bowling green, owned by the City Council) and the green open space behind Racecourse Park (owned solely by the University) in this development.


We have serious apprehensions about Durham City Council’s* past performance on planning (and licensing matters) and we want to ensure that the relevant arguments will be put forward relating to the issues concerning this planning application.

Our concerns about Durham City Council’s planning decisions had been exacerbated by a number of past errors of judgement these include:


  • The Local Government Ombudsman’s criticism in 2007 regarding the council’s planning decision to allow the building of Soccarena, which was given planning permission although it impairs important views of the World Heritage site of the Cathedral and Castle.

  • The planning inspector’s findings against the council in respect of a residential development in the city on the old Ice rink site.
  • The failure of the council to insist on lowering the structure of the Walkergate development in the city centre to the heights that had been permitted.
  • The building of 148 houses on a greenfield site at Ushaw Moor despite the Planning Inspector recommending the proposal be deleted from the Local Plan.
  • Durham County Council’s decision to allow the creation of a continental plaza in place of the City’s medieval market place which involves the relocation of two beloved statues, to which 6,000 people have objected. See Durham Times article.

We believe that all green space on the riverbank in Durham City should be retained for recreational use and not built on. Therefore we are opposed to this green area being included in the development proposal for the following reasons:


  • This is the only recreational space owned by Durham City Council on the banks of the River Wear, and as such is owned by the residents of Durham who as council tax payers ensured its purchase in the first place.

  • This part of the riverbank is a greenfield site, was previously green belt and is in a Conservation area and an area of High Landscape Value.

  • This is an historic and well-used recreational area, particularly during the Miners Gala established in 1871 and Regattas (Durham Regatta is 173 years old this year and older than Henley Regatta)

  • We want to protect the ancient views and perspectives of the World Heritage Site of the Cathedral and Castle from the riverbanks – Unesco World Heritage Site.

  • The green space area proposed for development is a category 3a flood plain and is therefore the highest at risk area for flooding – see environmental issues. 

*(now defunct & replaced by the unitary authority Durham County Council in May 2009)