Description.
Durham has a catchment population of approximately 111,000 and comprises a
particularly high proportion of young adults aged 15-24. The Durham area contains a
significantly above average proportion of adults within the most affluent AB social group.
Durham has one of the most recognised university’s in the world ranking 86th in 2021. In
the UK Durham University is ranked 4th by the Guardian University Guide 2021 and 7th in
the Complete University Guide 2021. The University employs over 4,300 members, has a
total student population of 18,707 (2018/2019) and is third oldest in the UK behind Oxford
and Cambridge.
Durham castle and cathedral are designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site which
assist in attracting tourists to Durham every year. 4.37 million people visited Durham
City in 2019 generating £237.93 million in visitor expenditure. The number of people
employed as a direct result of tourism is 2,861 people.
The central shopping area is compact and development is constrained by the historic
nature of the city and the River Wear. This constraint on supply provides a strong
foundation for rental growth. Retail floor space provision is estimated at 530,000 sq ft
and is focussed on Riverwalk Shopping Centre, Land of Prince Bishops Shopping Centre,
Silver Street and North Road.