News Article

The designs for the redevelopment of The Witham have revealed plans for a specialist regional food hall and a 160-seater cinema in the heart of Barnard Castle.

The plans have been available for the public to view in The Witham’s Castle Gallery on Friday 8th, and Saturday 9th January 2010.  As the on-going heavy snow has hampered people’s ability to visit the exhibition, Barnard Castle Vision and The Witham Trustees have also arranged for the designs to be displayed in the Castle Gallery for two more days, Friday 15th, and Saturday 16th January, 2010, between 9am and 6pm.

Barnard Castle Vision and The Witham Trustees, together with appointed architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, have published designs for the regeneration programme which include complete restoration of the original building on Horsemarket.  With additional development of the site to the rear of this hall, the new Witham will also feature a second flexible performance space which can be used as a theatre seating up to 163, or for alternate uses such as conferences or exhibitions, commercial meetings, or private functions.  The redeveloped Witham will become a centre encouraging healthy living, promoting healthy eating and providing a range of suitable activities and events for all.

Deborah Jenkins, chair of Barnard Castle Vision said: “A specialist food hall, providing a range of foods from across the region, will draw in people who live nearby as well as visitors from further afield.  By reinforcing Barnard Castle as a centre for excellent local food, we can put the town on the ‘food’ map, and raise its profile to the benefit of all town centre businesses.

“The completed Witham will bring together commercial, cultural and community activity under one roof.  However, this is a difficult time to secure the necessary funding.  It is not an option to do nothing and let this building crumble before our eyes, and many people are working hard to secure the total money required.  The support of the local community is vital to make the regeneration of The Witham become reality.  Visitors to the exhibition are been asked to sign a ‘visitors’ book’ to confirm that they are keen to see the redevelopment go ahead.”

The completed development will provide a wider range of facilities.  Features of the designs are as follows:

Original Horsemarket building:

The current ground floor will be opened up to create a new cafe and exhibition space.

The staircase will be retained and renovated.

The first floor hall will be renovated to be used as a performance space, studio or meeting room. 

Existing hall to the rear:

•  This will be replaced with a new building which will incorporate land gifted by the former Yorkshire Bank.

New building ground floor:

• This will include a 160-seater cinema.  This auditorium will also be available for alternative uses.
• A food hall with a number of retail units.

New building First Floor:

• This will feature a second cafeteria or a relaxation area where people can enjoy produce from the Food Hall below. 
• will be a new gallery, and additional exhibition space. 
•  Foyer and entrance to the upper auditorium/ performance space which can be used as a theatre seating up to 163, or for conferences, exhibitions, commercial meetings, or private functions. 

New building upper floor:

•  This will feature work and meeting spaces which will be available to rent, with a view to the new Witham generating new employment opportunities in Barnard Castle.

“These designs present an exciting future for The Witham,” added David Woods, chairman of The Witham Trustees.  “The redeveloped venue will provide greatly improved facilities for all the community activities we currently undertake.  It will also offer many new services.  The Witham will be an economically sustainable venue, and home to businesses as well as a cultural and community centre for the people of Barnard Castle.  We look forward to the Witham being at the heart of life of Barnard Castle long into the future.”

The new building will be designed to be as sustainable as possible, economic to heat and maintain, with low carbon emissions.  Rooflights will allow natural daylight into the heart of the food hall and main areas will be passively ventilated to remain comfortable without the need for air conditioning.  The plans incorporate sustainable technologies such as photovoltaic cells or solar water heating panels, as well as grey water collection for use in flushing toilets.  With a proposed new link from the Pay and Display car park, The Witham will be accessible from all directions.

The plans will now be submitted to Durham County Council for planning permission, while a number of funding applications are also progressed.

ENDS

 For more information, please contact Georgina Wilczek on 07773 613224 or Emma Hignett on 07968 409803.