PLANS for a £27-million visitor attraction to be located in the grounds of the former residence of the Bishops of Durham have been given the go-ahead, despite the reservations of planning officers (News, 29 May).

Members of Durham County Council's planning committee unanimously rejected the advice from their officers to refuse permission on the grounds that up to 40 homes near by would be affected by noise, and the habitat of bats and badgers would be disrupted.

The Eleven Arches Trust, named after a railway viaduct that crosses the 120-acre site beside Auckland Castle, plan to stage an open-air spectacular on 30 evenings each summer on the theme of 2000 years of British history.

The trust will construct an 8000-seat grandstand and a 1800-space car park, as well as staff and coach parking, stabling, and ancillary buildings. It is inspired by Puy du Fou, an internationally renowned project in France.

The scheme is the idea of the financier and philanthropist Jonathan Ruffer, who bought Auckland Castle in 2012, initially to ensure its collection of Zurbarán paintings remained in the region (Feature, 12 July 2013).

He told the planning meeting on Tuesday: "I have seen first-hand in France how an area not unlike south-west Durham has been literally transformed by the unifying effect of a community coming together to produce something of excellence, and that seemed to be something of such value that I was prepared to throw this resource into it. What I want to do is bring something to this region, something that will transform it."

After the decision, he said: "I'm never that impressed with people who say they're over the moon, [but] I'm pretty pleased."

Residents who will be affected by the scheme were still unhappy. One, Kathleen Forsyth, said: "The excessive noise levels will breach World Health Organization guidelines, and the timing of the shows will have the maximum impact on residents, mainly children and the elderly, who will be in bed.

"Every Friday night and every Saturday night would be affected by noise at such a level that it could affect health."

But the MP for Bishop Auckland, Helen Goodman, said: "This project has the potential to offer a real economic boost to the town, and attract new visitors from across the region, the country, and even internationally. This will be a unique attraction, which will generate much needed employment and income for Bishop Auckland."

An Eleven Arches spokesman said that the trust was "thrilled and delighted" by the decision.