Durham news
AWARD IS FAMILY TRAIT
HOTEL BOOST
Business Durham investment supports successful re-opening of Hotel Indigo
Global boutique hotel chain IHG Hotel Indigo successfully reopened its prestigious £ 15m hotel and restaurant in Durham City over the summer with help from Business Durham , the Business Support Service for Durham County Council .
Hotel Indigo ’ s 4-star boutique hotel is set within the iconic Grade II listed Shire Hall , which originally opened in 2018 after undergoing a major refurbishment .
The conversion of the listed building into a hotel provided a high-quality addition to the visitor offer in Durham City , and it was developed sensitively to preserve the listed features and the importance of this historic building to the city .
The facilities also include a 150-cover Marco Pierre White ( MPW ) Steakhouse Bar and Grill .
The hotel is a key destination in Durham City and is an important business and leisure asset for the city .
Affected by long periods of closure during the Covid-19 pandemic , Hotel Indigo secured a £ 250,000 business loan from the Finance Durham Fund to overcome trading issues and safeguard its future , as well as helping the hotel to prepare for its re-opening .
A consulting engineering firm is set to expand and create new jobs after securing a six-figure investment .
TGA Consulting Engineers designs mechanical and electrical services for a wide variety of new and existing buildings , and has particular expertise in using low carbon technologies and techniques to improve buildings ’ environmental performance .
The Durham-headquartered firm , which celebrates its 60th anniversary next year , has been involved with landmark projects ranging from Hexham Abbey , the British Museum and Durham Cathedral through
Hotel Indigo general manager Tom Orange with Cllr James Rowlandson , cabinet member for resources , investment and assets at Durham County Council , and Sarah Slaven , interim managing director at Business Durham .
Established by Durham County Council in 2017 , Finance Durham is a £ 20m investment fund overseen by Business Durham and managed by Maven Capital Partners , to help businesses to accelerate growth in the county . Since it was launched the fund has invested over £ 6.8m into 16 businesses across County Durham .
In addition to the Finance Durham Fund business loan , Hotel Indigo also accessed support from the Durham Business Recovery Grant scheme towards implementing its recovery plan which included creating an alfresco dining area to the front and side of the building .
Launched by Durham County Council in January 2021 , the Durham Business Recovery Grant was aimed at businesses that had experienced a significant adverse impact from Covid and had a credible plan to adapt and recover .
Hotel Indigo general manager Tom Orange said : “ The funding from Finance Durham allowed us to maintain and protect our hotel during the hard closure . It allowed us to have a core team on site ensuring that day to day checks were carried out as well as making sure core equipment was serviced in readiness for an opening date .”
Durham engineers target growth after £ 250k investment
to Hitachi Rail ’ s manufacturing facility in Newton Aycliffe and Durham University ’ s new Computer Science and Mathematical Sciences building .
A Wear businessman has discovered a top award he brought back to County Durham was originally won three decades ago by his father .
John Adamson is owner of The Impeccable Pig in Sedgefield which celebrated being awarded the title of AA Inn of the Year 2021 by leading hospitality standards agency , AA .
And now John has found the win has created somewhat of a family tradition after learning his late father , Michael , achieved the same accolade in 1986 when he owned the Dun Cow Inn in Sedgefield .
John , who also operates Ramside Hall Hotel , Golf and Spa , Hardwick Hall Hotel and Bowburn Hall Hotel , launched the luxury venue in 2018 , with the award announcement coming one day after its third birthday .
Go-ahead for Durham city residential development
Plans for a new high-quality residential development to the east of Durham City have been recommended for approval by Durham County Council ’ s expert planning officers .
County Durham-headquartered Banks Property originally submitted an outline planning application for the Bent House Lane development in October last year , which encompassed up to 440 family homes on land to the south of the A181 Sherburn Road between Gilesgate and the A1 .
Alongside the new homes , the Bent House Lane plans also include the creation of around 3.5 hectares of public open space and a new network of footpaths and cycleways to link with nearby facilities , including the retail facilities at Dragonville and Damson Way and the National Cycle Route 14 to Durham City .
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