INFRASTRUCTURE
constructionmanagermagazine.com
TOLENT DIGS DEEP IN DURHAM THE GIANT MILBURNGATE DEVELOPMENT ON DURHAM’S RIVERSIDE HAS REQUIRED A COMPLEX INFRASTRUCTURE PHASE, INCLUDING A MONSTER RETAINING WALL. JAMIE HARRIS SPEAKS TO MAIN CONTRACTOR TOLENT’S PROJECT MANAGER
“On a project like this you become blasé about the normal challenges.” Michael Rutherford is project manager for Tolent Construction on the 450,000 sq ft, £120m mixed-use Milburngate development in Durham. The north-east-based firm was appointed main contractor on phase one of the scheme at the beginning of 2019, which includes construction of
70% of the entire development, with the project commencing the following June. Situated against a picturesque backdrop which includes Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral on the banks of the River Wear and located on a UNESCO World Heritage site, the scheme comprises a 92-bed hotel, 5,000 sq ft of speculative office space, three buildto-rent apartment blocks with 153 new
The superstructures of the retail units and hotel have now been finished
homes, and 60,000 sq ft of retail space, including restaurants and a cinema. The Milburngate development will sit proudly in the heart of the historic city centre’s landscape upon completion. And despite global pandemic-related setbacks for the sector, this project remains on track to meet its targeted finish date in November this year.
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