Historic Durham City building to be turned into apartments

A Grade II listed building in Old Elvet which is being converted into apartments.

The Grade II listed building in Old Elvet is being converted into one and two-bedroomed apartments by the FiftyTwo Group, set up by North East entrepreneurs, Fergus Bell and Daniel Gibson.

The flats will offer state-of-the-art facilities, but at the same time will retain many of the original features of the house which was built in the early 1700s.

Plans for the development have been underway for two years, finally getting the green light in June, with the aim of completion by March 2018.

And, the creation of the ambitious development also brings to fruition a long-held dream of 26-year-old Fergus, who lives close by.

He said: "I had walked past the building for years and I could see its clear potential.

"So when the opportunity came to acquire and redevelop it we jumped at the chance.

What the inside of the apartments in Old Elvet could look like.

“With all the investment currently taking place around Durham, there couldn’t be a better time for a high quality, luxury development like this to be taking place in a building with such incredible history.

“We have spent a great deal of time ensuring the apartments will be finished to the highest standards throughout, but at the same time we’ve also made sure that we’ve incorporated as many of the original features as possible.”

The building, formerly the home of the Durham County Club, has seen numerous aristocrats and business leaders entertained there over the years, including The Queen.

The developers have embraced the many striking features the house has, with one of the apartments having an original range as a focal point, while the club’s former dining room will become a kitchen/living room.

The ambitious £1.5m scheme is one of a number now becoming part of the FiftyTwo Group’s fast-growing portfolio, with Fergus and Daniel looking at a number of other projects.

Both former professional sportsmen, the pair have worked independently on a range of property-related initiatives before joining forces to form the FiftyTwo Group.

Daniel said: “We believe 52 Old Elvet will have massive appeal, not just because of its fantastic location but because of it offering something that few developments can – modern living in a truly unique setting."