SerpApi.Org
A seasonal historical theme park has submitted plans which it hopes will help it become a year-round tourist destination.
Proposals for Binchester Earth, a new attraction beside the Roman fort in County Durham, have been drawn up as part of plans to expand Bishop Auckland's Kynren site.
The live-action show, which tells the story of England through 2,000 years, has recently expanded to include a day time attraction.
The plans form part of a wider project for the existing outdoor Kynren site to expand into 11Arches Park with three new performance venues inspired by different periods of history, as well as transport improvements.
According to the plans, Binchester Earth would include a welcome and discovery centre and children's play area, along with a programme of annual special events.
Developers said it would complement the recently expanded Kynren which opened earlier this month with The Storied Lands new day park.
Medieval castle
The wider scheme would also have new themed performance venues inspired by different periods of history, including an outdoor Roman amphitheatre and an indoor medieval castle theatre.
To support the increased number of visitors, the Bishop Gateway would create a new 700-metre access road linking the A688 directly to the attractions, allowing traffic to bypass Bishop Auckland town centre, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
The infrastructure plans also include two visitor car parks, a new pedestrian footbridge over the River Wear and a signal-controlled junction on the A688 with additional turning lanes.
Planning documents said the road improvements had been designed to accommodate coaches and reduce congestion in the town centre during major events.
Durham County Council will consider the proposals at a later date.
Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
