REGENERATION bosses behind a £150m city centre riverside transformation have unveiled 75-job hotel and restaurant plans.

Arlington Real Estate has agreed a deal to open a Premier Inn and Bar + Block steakhouse on Durham City’s Milburngate.

The development, subject to planning permission, will join a Pitcher & Piano bar and Everyman cinema on the waterside endeavour, which officials previously said they expect to create more than 1,000 full-time jobs and support 650 construction posts.

They added it will be the first opening of Bar + Block in the north of England, with operator Whitbread’s new Premier Inn 92-bed venture complementing an existing hotel across the River Wear at Freeman’s Place.

The re-development will also include apartments and offices.

Arlington Real Estate is overseeing the revamp of Milburngate House, once the home of the Passport Office and National Savings and Investments, alongside partner, the Richardson family, and managing director Allan Cook said its latest agreements represent a significant coup.

“They not only demonstrate the confidence Whitbread has in Durham City, but also how Milburngate can help position and strengthen two of its important brands,” said Mr Cook.

“Milburngate’s offering is attracting high-quality operators, which will enhance and expand the leisure market in Durham and help attract visitors from across the North-East and further afield to the city.”

Matt Aubrey, Premier Inn’s acquisitions manager for the North-East, added: “Milburngate is a major part of the future of Durham's city centre and we are excited to be a part of it.

“Subject to planning, the new hotel and restaurant will offer visitors greater choice and value.”

The Milburngate development previously saw construction and outsourcing company Carillion support operations as a joint partner.

However, it was revealed late last year that Arlington and the Richardson family had bought Carillion’s share to jointly press ahead with the scheme.

Carillion collapsed into liquidation earlier this week after struggling against a £1bn debt mountain and £600m pension deficit.