Loading ...New Arena Announced for Durham
The announcement was made public at the inaugural Ian Defty Memorial Trophy at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena and received possibly the biggest cheer of the evening from the crowd.
The new rink will be located at the former LG Philips site at Belmont, forming part of the next phase of the recently created 42-acre Mandale Business Park on the outskirts of the city.
Former Philips LG site at Belmont, Durham.
The proposed development will boast a 3,000-seater ice arena with an Olympic-sized (60m x 30m) ice pad plus cafés, restaurants, a fitness suite and retail outlets designed to complement the centre’s leisure facilites.
The proposals have been masterminded by a north-based company set up to invest in new leisure and retail opportunities in the region. A spokesman for the developers said:
“We want to create a high-quality visitor experience, and we believe by bringing these leisure facilities together under one roof we can create a landmark leisure destination to attract users from across the region.”
Following detailed negotiations with Mandale Group - the owners of the site - the developers are confident they can now move ahead with the project and have begun initial discussions with Durham City Council regarding planning consent.
Joe Darragh from Mandale Group said: ” If final terms can be agreed and the local planning authority approve it, the development would be great for the city and we believe would be a very popular venue bringing visitors from miles around to Durham. Everybody would benefit from this fantastic facility.”
The County Durham Ice Foundation welcomed the announcement, saying:
“It’s been a long time coming, but we are delighted by the news and extremely excited by the plans. People in Durham of all ages have been crying out for a facility like this for years, and we’re confident it will exceed a lot of people’s expectations.”
As well as providing a much needed ice skating facility for the local community, the arena will see the much-anticipated return of ice hockey to Durham once again.
It is anticipated that up to 200 jobs could be created by the leisure scheme and the developers aim to involve several local business in its creation. The centre could potentially be open for business by as early as Autumn 2009. Any comments, suggestions or commercial interest in the development can be directed through rich@cdif.org.uk
More details will be released as we get them. Thanks for sticking with us over the years, it’s been a long slog, but ladies and gentlemen, we’re confident that the ice age is upon us once again.
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brilliant news can’t wait for the new Durham Wasps watch out all the hockey teams out there as the boys will be back in town, be afraid, be very afraid!
about time the wasps are back
A very well done to all involved!!
YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!! Fantastic news!!!!
Great news! Being a former player and captain of Durham Wasps in the 60s/70s I am delighted that Ice skating and hopefully Ice Hockey will be returning to Durham. I have never been able to get used to Durham without Ice Hockey and hopefully Ice Hockey is coming home for all the good people of Durham. Good luck to all involved. Dennis (Denny) Brown.
Was talking to some ladies tonight (Guide leaders) - they were all very pleased at this news, although I don’t think any of them have had much to do with skating themselves. They thought it was great that there would be more facilities in Durham, specially for children.
Brilliant News, well done to all at CDIF for not giving up hope. I’m sure it will be a huge success, can the Dragons ‘rec’ Hockey Team book some “ice time” in advance??? Many of the players also now have young children including me that would love the see them involved in ice skating, whether it be hockey orfigure skating. Durham has been crying out for more leisure facilities instead of housing developments and it looks like we are finally getting what we have asked for over the past 12 years. Looking foward to opening night…
Can’t wait!!
cant wait for this, was there 3 times a week until it shut down.
If we get a new rink in Durham, would we also see the return of competitive ice hockey as well…..although I’ve never been a massive hockey fan, I remember with some fondness the success of the Durham Wasps in the late 80’s and early 90’s
It would be fantastic to see the return of the Durham Wasps not just for the city but the whole county and beyond !
While I think it is fantastic news about the arena, the question on my mind is “Are the Wasps coming back?” Fancy moving the team Rob?
Some of my best memories of being young were larking about on the ice in Durham rink. I’m sure I’m not alone. There was a real spirit there and Im so glad it can now return… The benefits of a rink to the people of Durham can not be measured.
Oh yes indeed, well done to the campaigners and I look forward to humming the tune again, dur-am dur-am, dur-am
Here in Southampton we are still trying hard to get where you have after 20 years! But we will never give up.
http://www.southampton-vikings.co.uk
absolutely delighted that there will be a rink soon - already polishing my skates! Well done all you the campaigners.
YEEESSSS!
Come on! Best news i’ve had in ages and I can’t believe I didn;t hear about it sooner… I think i’m gonna cry
Fingers crossed the Wasps come buzzing back home too!
This truly has made my year!
CJ Linton.
I would love to take my two children skating, my dad played for the wasps in the 60s and took us skating as soon as we could walk.
do you know around the time that the rink is actually going to open, as in which month.
does anybody know?
i havent been ice skating for weeks, as the nearest ice rink is in whitley bay
it costs too much to get there
does any one know if the rink is still going ahead as the sight hasnt been updated for almost a year?