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Plans for the new Witham available to view

01/06/2010

Barnard Castle Vision and The Witham Trustees have made the designs for the new Witham Hall available to view, and members of the public are welcome to look over the plans and leave any comments or questions they might have.

The plans will be displayed in the corridor to the ‘main hall’ in The Witham until Friday, July 2nd, 2010.  The building is open to visitors every weekday between 10am and 5pm,  The display incorporates graphic images of the floorplans and sections through the building, as well as an artist’s impressions of how the completed interior might look.

The plans have been submitted to Durham County Council’s Planning Department for approval.  If planning permission is granted and funding secured, work will begin on the redevelopment of the hall in the new year, 2011.

The plans show a specialist regional food hall, cinema, second auditorium suitable for various uses, gallery and exhibition space, and a cafeteria.  The original listed hall on Horsemarket will be completely restored, whilst the larger hall to the rear will be demolished and the site redeveloped.

Barnard Castle Vision and The Witham Trustees appointed architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios to design the project.  The original designs were revealed in January, and following extensive consultation a number of alterations have been made, including turning the cinema and second auditorium above by 90 degrees.  

Edward Stickland, Project Manager for The Witham, said: “We have been working closely with all relevant departments within Durham County Council over this scheme, and with English Heritage.  We are currently liaising with local residents and businesses and will continue to do this throughout the scheme development and works phases.”

David Woods, chairman of The Witham Trustees, said: “When we first revealed the designs in January, the public were overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic.  We are delighted to be in a position now to submit these plans.  Barnard Castle Vision, the architects and the Trustees have worked closely and consulted widely in recent months.  The designs present an exciting future for The Witham, and community as a whole.”

“The support of the local community is vital to make the redevelopment of The Witham become reality,” added Deborah Jenkins, chair of Barnard Castle Vision.  “Visitors to the exhibition can sign a ‘visitors’ book’ to confirm that they support the plans.  However, everyone involved with this project is fully aware that this is a difficult time to secure the necessary funding and at this stage we do not have the full amount guaranteed.”