MULTI-MILLION pound plans have been unveiled to secure and create up to 800 jobs by building offices and leisure facilities on the site of a former ice rink in Durham City .

A business consortium wants £27m invested in redeveloping the Freeman’s Reach site in Durham City – once home to the Durham Wasps ice hockey team – as a first step towards realising a vision to regenerate Durham City’s riverside under the Durham Riverside Renewal project.

They want to build 8,000sq metres of high-quality, ecofriendly offices, as well as a restaurant, cafe and kiosk aimed at tourists.

They say the plans would create one of the most carbon- friendly city centre developments anywhere in the UK.

The first phase would be occupied by National Savings and Investments (NS&I), which plans to move across the River Wear from Milburngate House – which is also set to be redeveloped.

A hydro-power water turbine would harness the power of the Wear to produce electricity.

Following phases would be let to other businesses.

The scheme would be delivered by a consortium led by Carillion Developments, Arlington Real Estate and Richardsons Capital, which recently won the contract.

Allan Cook, managing director of Arlington Real Estate, said: “I am so proud we have been selected to bring forward this new phase of regeneration in Durham, which will be sympathetic to the historic environment and architecture of the area, as well as providing new amenities and enhancing Durham’s local economy.

“In addition to maintaining NS&I’s presence in Durham and securing and creating hundreds of jobs in the city, this project will also open up the riverside to the public giving better access to Durham’s signature landmarks and amenities.”

The site was home to the legendary Wasps team until the mid-1990s, but has stood disused since Kascada bowling alley closed in 2009.

It was previously the subject of a £20m housing application, which was rejected in 2006 after a lengthy planning wrangle. It was bought by One North East and now belongs to the Homes and Communities Agency.

The latest plans will go on public display in the Burlison Gallery, in Durham Town Hall, on Friday, June 29, from noon to 8pm.

Further information will be available soon at durhamriversiderenewal.co.uk Planning applications are expected later this year and the new development could open in summer 2015.