Businesses on Newgate Street are already seeing the rewards of the Property Reuse Fund – a vital part of our Bishop Auckland Masterplan and our plans to regenerate and bring life to the town centre.
133 Newgate Street – Inspiral Cycles
Gary and Fiona Ewing, owners of Inspiral Cycles on Newgate Street, applied to the scheme with hopes of contributing to the accommodation offer for the up-and-coming tourism scene.
They used the money from the grant to redevelop the upstairs of their new bicycle workshop into an ecofriendly, self-contained flat, with the aim of renting it out as a holiday let for those visiting the bike trails such as Hamsterley Forest or the new tourist attractions in
the town.
Work has started to entirely refit the space using energy efficient materials. It will also see solar panels installed to help make the accommodation as ecofriendly as possible.
Fiona said: “We wanted to be able to contribute something different to the highstreet. The location of where we are with such close
access to the countryside, means there is so much for visitors to discover. We have to rethink the future of the town and what it has to offer with tourism, recreation and leisure.
“Without the grant it may have taken us at least five years to save up enough money to be able to carry out the work. With all the investment going into the town we really need landlords and businesses to come together and make the best of it.”
Fiona and Gary have also used the Business Improvement Grants to improve their shopfront with repainting and new signage, helping their business to stand out on the highstreet.
8 Newgate Street – Moss & Ivy @ The Vines
Joanne and Wayne Parnaby opened the doors to their new venture earlier in the summer and it has already proven to be very popular amongst shoppers and diners.
The grant was used to redevelop the entire three floors of the building. The ground floor is now a home accessories store, and the upper two floors boast a luxurious coffee lounge bar that pays homage to the heritage of the building.
A total of almost 70 per cent of the cost to complete the work came from the Property Reuse Fund.
Wayne said: “Without the funding we could never have afforded to fulfil this ambition. We’re putting our own little mark on the town and there are already lots of plans and developments for Newgate on the way. I hope other businesses take advantage of the help available so we can bring the town back to life, like what it used to be.”
By reducing vacancy rates and bringing buildings back into use with a more diverse and modern retail, hospitality and accommodation
offer, the Property Reuse Fund will help bring significant economic benefits to the town by attracting visitors who will want to stay longer, leading to higher levels of spend during visits. Businesses can apply for the fund by emailing propertyreusefund@durham.gov.uk.
