WITH Durham set to be transformed by £195m of investment, council bosses are working with transport companies to improve transport links to the city to deal with increased demand.

While parts of the city centre are currently building sites, with the large scale demolition of Milburngate House ongoing and construction taking place at the former Gates shopping centre, major new developments on the riverside are set to substantially increase the food and retail offer – as well as provide two new cinemas.

On the other side of the city centre, £15m of work is ongoing at the Grade II listed Old Shire Hall on Old Elvet to turn it into a Hotel Indigo, with a 150-cover Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar and Grill, due to to open this autumn.

Existing businesses in the city are hoping to capitalise on the boom, while Durham County Council says it is working with public transport providers to consider the demands for increased travel.

Adam Deathe, engagement manager for Durham Business Improvement District, said: "The city is going to be transformed but in a very good way. There's a considerable amount of private and public money being pumped into the city and we’ve also got a lot of new entertainment."

The Gates shopping centre is being replaced with a £30m Riverwalk, which when completed in 2018 will include a six screen Odeon cinema, restaurants, shops and student accommodation.

And nearby, the former passport office at Milburngate House is being replaced with a £150m development including luxury apartments, offices, bars and restaurants.

With opening still more than a year away for the two riverside development, several national names have already announced they will be coming to the city – including Handmade Burger Co, Caribbean restaurant Turtle Bay and Pitcher and Piano.

Mr Deathe added: "Change is good but it has to be managed well. If we are able to work together as a county we can make sure the city offer does appeal. The city dates back 1,000 years and it has a strong cultural heritage but it has to respond to change."

However some have doubts about how successful the developments will be.

Roger Cornwall, chairman of the City of Durham Trust, said: “There seems to be a lot going on and we wonder about the commercial viability. Presumably they have done their sums but Durham will end up with three cinemas which seems like overkill.

"The problem with Durham is when the students are here it’s one sort of city and when they are away during the summer it’s a different sort of city and any one starting up in Durham has to face that."

Dave Wafer, Durham County Council’s strategic traffic manager, said: “We welcome the new developments across the city and the boost this will provide to the local economy.

“Over the coming months we will be working with public transport providers to consider the likely demands for increased travel to the new venues.

“We continue to work with Go North East to support the promotion of their late night bus service from Durham to Newcastle, which runs until 4am."