A MULTI-MILLION pound redevelopment plan to put Durham on a par with other historic cities, such as York and Chester, has been unveiled.

Developers have given themselves 20 years to redefine one of the region's oldest cities and make it worthy of the World Heritage Status bestowed on the cathedral.

The plan - led by Durham city and county councils with the backing of regional development chiefs and the University of Durham - faces formidable obstacles, not least how to redevelop a city layout largely unchanged since medieval times.

But officials say the city has no choice but to change, especially as it is the front runner to become the home of North-East regional government.

A city council spokesman said: "The consensus among people now is Durham is beautiful but boring. That's got to change."

As a first step towards transformation, the partners - known as the Durham City Steering Group - commissioned a series of studies. The consultants' report concluded it was impossible for Durham City to compete with larger cities such as Newcastle and Sunderland.

Instead, it urged planners to concentrate on redefining the city's medieval past to meet modern expectations. A steering group member said: "We have to do it without turning Durham into some kind of hideous Disney-style theme park." Meg Abdy, project director of The Chambers, which conducted the study in partnership with chartered surveyors Donaldsons, said: "The message that came through strongly was that Durham is not achieving its full potential."

While the new vision was getting its first public airing, guardians of Durham's architectural heritage, the City of Durham Trust, were disappointed not to have been included in it's preparation.

Honorary secretary Dr Douglas Pocock said: "We regret we were not consulted at the relevant time and have little faith that anything we have to say will have any affect."