Referral of the proposed subsidy to The Auckland Project by Durham County Council

The Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU) has accepted a request for a report providing advice to Durham County Council concerning its proposed subsidy to The Auckland Project.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
17 February 2025
Case type:
SAU referral
Case state:
Open
Market sector:
Recreation and leisure
Opened:
14 February 2025

Administrative timetable

Date Action
28 March 2025 SAU’s report to be published
27 February 2025 Deadline for receipt of any third-party submissions (submissions after this date may not be taken into account)
14 February 2025 Beginning of reporting period

Request from Durham County Council

14 February 2025: The SAU has accepted a request for a report from Durham County Council concerning the proposed subsidy to The Auckland Project. This request relates to a Subsidy of Particular interest.

The SAU will prepare a report, which will provide an evaluation of Durham County Council’s Assessment of whether the subsidy complies with the subsidy control requirements (Assessment of Compliance). The SAU will complete its report within 30 working days.

Information about the subsidy provided by Durham County Council

The Council proposes to award £28m to The Auckland Project (“TAP”) towards the costs of delivering five interlinked projects (the “Projects”) within Bishop Auckland in County Durham.

All of the Projects contribute to a regeneration objective, improving Bishop Auckland as a tourist attraction and thereby contributing to the growth of the local economy.

Auckland Palace, once home to the powerful Prince Bishops of Durham is the primary attraction for tourists coming into the area, but in recent years there has also been visitor interest in other attractions in and around Bishop Auckland, including Kynren, a 90-minute outdoor show which runs on particular nights during the Summer.

The Projects which will be supported through the award of public funding are works:

  • to upgrade Kingsway Car Park

  • to create a new access road in the grounds of Auckland Palace, leading to two car parks with a total of c. 2,500 to 3,000 parking spaces

  • towards the costs of opening the Market Place Hotel

  • to develop an artist’s hub at 43 Market Place

  • to upgrade Durham Dales Gateway Car Park

The funding will also cover the costs of a new footbridge across the River Wear connecting the grounds of Auckland Palace with the former golf course site at Flatts Farm (which is now used as the venue for Kynren and 11 arches attractions).

The Projects are considered to contribute to attracting people to Bishop Auckland, whether to visit, live or work. This increased footfall is considered to benefit the local economy, attracting in private investment. In addition, the Projects create income streams for TAP and therefore each help improve the sustainability of this important regeneration organisation, supporting the organisation to continue to deliver further regeneration activities in the coming years.

Information for third parties

If you wish to comment on matters relevant to the SAU’s evaluation of the Assessment of Compliance concerning the proposed subsidy to TAP please send your comments on the date stipulated in the timetable above. For guidance on representations relevant to the Assessment of Compliance, see the section on reporting period and transparency in the Operation of the subsidy control functions of the Subsidy Advice Unit.

Please send your submissions to us at theaucklandprojectdcc@cma.gov.uk copying the public authority: bishopaucklandregen@durham.gov.uk.

Please also provide a contact address and explain in what capacity you are making the submission (for example, as an individual or a representative of a business or organisation).

Notes to third parties wishing to make a submission

The SAU will only take your submission into account if it can be shared with the Durham County Council. The SAU will send a copy of your submission to the Durham County Council together with its report. This is to allow the public authority to take account of the submission in its decision as to whether to make or modify the subsidy or its assessment. We therefore ask that you provide express consent for your full and unredacted submission to be shared. We also encourage you to share your submission directly with the Durham County Council using the email address provided above.

The SAU may use the information you provide in its published report. Therefore, you should indicate in your submission whether any specified parts of it are commercially confidential. If the SAU wishes to refer in its published report to material identified as confidential, it will contact you in advance.

For further details on confidentiality of third party submissions, see identifying confidential information in the Operation of the subsidy control functions of the Subsidy Advice Unit.

Contacts

Updates to this page

Published 17 February 2025
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