Bishop Auckland's £24m Eleven Arches project gets the go ahead

The £24m Eleven Arches project is now on target to open next year after councillors unanimously voted to approve the plans, which will see spectacular historical shows performed to an estimated 180,000 visitors a year in the shadow of the Grade One-listed Auckland Castle.

The project was described as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to rejuvenate Bishop Auckland, which supporters say could create hundreds of jobs and be worth about £9m-a-year to the local economy.

COMMENT: The answer had to be "yes"

After a 90-minute debate at County Hall in Durham, members of Durham County Council’s County Planning Committee voted to approve the application, despite a recommendation from their own officers that the proposal be refused.

However, despite today’s vote the attraction will still need to win a license before it can stage its first show, scheduled for the summer of 2016.

The Eleven Arches Trust charity, backed by multi-millionaire philanthropist Jonathan Ruffer, applied for permission to build the ambitious attraction on a 48-hectare site at Flatts Farm, a former golf course in Toronto which borders both Auckland Castle and Newton Cap Viaduct.

Inspired by the Puy du Fou project in France, organisers hope to stage an evening sound and light spectacular which celebrates 2,000 years of British history through the eyes of the North-East with both fireworks and a soundtrack.

Shows would be staged for 30 nights each year, between May and September, with a cast and crew made up of 600 volunteers.

The application includes an 8,000-seat grandstand and 1,800-space visitor car park, as well as staff and coach parking, stabling for the horses used in the show and ancillary buildings.

Mr Ruffer told the committee meeting: “I have seen first-hand in France how an area not unlike South West Durham has been literally transformed by the unifying effect of a community coming together to produce something of excellence and that seemed to be something of such value that I was prepared to throw this resource into it.

“What I want to do is bring something to this region, something that will transform it.”

The application has received widespread political support and the meeting heard that the council had received 75 letters backing the scheme.

The meeting heard there were concerns about the impact of the development on its historic setting and the “severe and unavoidable impact” on a nearby badger colony. However, residents’ main concern was the potential noise levels generated every weekend over the summer months.

Resident Kathleen Forsyth: “This application has caused a huge divide in Bishop Auckland, mainly between those who live close to the site and those who live further away.

“The excessive noise levels will breach World Health Organisation guidelines and the timing of the shows will have the maximum impact on residents, mainly children and the elderly who will be in bed.
“Every Friday night and every Saturday night would be effected by noise at such a level that could affect health.”

Toronto resident Angela Flowers added: “This development is excessive, inappropriate and prejudicial to health. It will lead to sleep deprivation, lead to considerable stress and health impacts.”

However, local councillor Joy Allen, one of 16 local politicians who signed a letter backing the application, said she “wholeheartedly” supported the plan.

Cllr Allen said:  “If the Eleven Arches application goes ahead, we will enter the Champions League of tourist destinations and if we turn it down it would be like turning away the world-renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

“If we trawled the world looking for a world class family attraction, we couldn’t find a better example than what we have in front of us today.

“We will be ahead of the likes of Russia and China in bringing one of the best family attraction shows in the world to the North-East.
“Eleven Arches has so much to offer our residents. I believe our young people and volunteers will have the opportunity to perform on a stage like no other.

“This is too big of an opportunity for us to miss”.

While acknowledging residents’ concerns over noise, members of the committee described the application as “an extremely exciting development” in a town in which more than 1400 people were out of work.

Cllr David Boyes: “There will be 130,000 visitors and its worth £9m as a conservative estimate to the local economy - we need to think about the greater good.”

Cllr Paul Taylor said: “The application doesn’t tick all the boxes and there will be noise problems but ‘Wow’.

“Bishop Auckland deserves this opportunity to progress, to fly, to become a world class centre for entertainment and I can’t deny them the opportunity to take Bishop Auckland forward”.

Speaking after the meeting, the decision was welcomed by Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman.

She said: “This project has the potential to offer a real economic boost to the town and attract new visitors from across the region, the country and even internationally.

“This will be a unique attraction which will generate much needed employment and income for Bishop Auckland.

“During the planning process concerns have been expressed by local residents and I hope that everyone can work together to address some of those concerns.

“I will be working to ensure they do and that everyone gets to share in the benefits that this scheme could bring.”

Anne-Isabelle Daulon, chief executive of Eleven Arches, said the decision meant the project was on target for delivery next year.

She added: “I felt incredible pressure going into committee, knowing that so many people had put faith in us. And when I heard the results, all my thoughts went to all our supporters, I was so happy and relieved that the town had won this once in a lifetime opportunity for itself.

“Today is only the beginning of an extraordinary journey, one that will get all lights on Bishop Auckland and County Durham, so let the hard work and the fun begin.”