Durham County Council is due to move out of its historic headquarters this summer ahead of demolition next year, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
County Hall, at Aykley Heads in Durham City, is scheduled to close earlier than originally planned, with all council staff and services expected to be relocated by July.
Council officials said the earlier move will save around £350,000 in building running costs, ongoing maintenance and repairs, and speed up the development of the new Aykley Heads Innovation District.
Cabinet members and councillors part of the Reform-led local authority will relocate to the Rivergreen Centre, which will be the main base of council operations. The site, which formerly housed the Atom Bank headquarters, is currently undergoing major redevelopment after it was bought by the council for £11 million in 2023
Opposition councillors will be temporarily relocated to the nearby Salvus House offices until February 2027.
Full council meetings from September will be held at Spennymoor Leisure Centre until the Rivergreen building is available, which will house a brand new council chamber. Committee meetings will be scheduled across Salvus House, The Light, Green Lane, and Spennymoor Education Centre.
Demolition work on the existing County Hall site, which opened in 1963, is expected to start in March 2027 when it is handed over to Muse, the council’s joint venture partner.
The public-private partnership, supported by Durham University, is expected to create thousands of new jobs and to become a regional hub for research and innovation.
A new cultural venue inside the former Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum and Art Gallery called ‘The Light’ is due to open later this year.
Speaking after signing the partnership agreement with Muse last year, council leader Andrew Husband said: “Aykley Heads will deliver thousands of quality jobs for our residents and will be a significant driving force for County Durham’s future economic growth, as well as that of the wider North East.”
Phil Mayall, managing director at Muse, added: “Aykley Heads will provide a high-quality environment to encourage the growth of existing businesses and attract others to the region.
“It will also help to balance out the city core by revitalising the area, creating a vibrant and exciting new employment destination.”
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
