Plans to transform the site of the former Durham Baths into a £75m business school for the city's university have been revealed.
Located along the Elvet Watrerside, the site building earmarked for demolition is a non-designated heritage asset and has been vacant and derelict since July 2008, when replacement facilities were provided at Freemans Quay Leisure Centre.
Constructed in 1932, it is considered to be in "very poor condition" with missing and broken windows, organic growth through the roofs, windows and walls, and rot to the timber work.
Also on the plot are Vennel Cottage and a host of grade II-listed properties, including 42, 47-49 and 50-51 Old Elvet.
Proposed is the construction of a Durham University Business School building along Elvet Waterside, which will replace the former baths site, as well as transforming Vennel Cottage into a café, 42, 50 and 51 Old Elvet into a trio of residential properties and refurbishing 47-49 Old Elvet as a start-up business incubator associated with the proposed school.
The main facility would cover 144,505 sq ft across six storeys. It would comprise a 300-seat lecture theatre, a 120-seat collaboration lecture theatre and two 75-seat Harvard-style lecture theatres. Also proposed are nine research offices, 30 teaching spaces, 32 study spaces, 14 student support and professional services offices, 47 central support rooms and 24 plant rooms.
A planning statement submitted to Durham County Council noted that the development would provide economic benefits to both the city and region in the form of job creation during demolition, construction and when the building is in operation.
"The development of the new Business School building at Elvet Waterside will enhance the heritage assets, ecology, landscape and heritage views associated with the site, regenerating a historic part of the city which has suffered decades of neglect," it added.