Green light for £7.25m Durham Miner’s Hall restoration

Plans have been approved for the multimillion-pound refurbishment and extension of the historic Durham Miners Hall.Durham County Council backed proposals to secure the future of the hall, known as Redhills, that opened in 1915 as the purpose-built headquarters of the Durham Miners Association (DMA).The grade II-listed hall in the Durham City conservation area will be transformed into a centre of culture, heritage and education for the Durham coalfield area and beyond.The project will meet a series of conditions to ensure the heritage of the hall is protected and that the development is sympathetic to the local environment.Work is due to start on site in early 2022 and follows a £4.5m grant secured from the National Lottery Heritage Fund earlier this year. The overall cost of the project will be £7.25m , with Durham County Council also providing £1.1m along with funding from trade unions and community supporters.Redhills will be fully restored with the addition of new buildings to improve accessibility and offer a wide-ranging programme of activities and community resources.Robert Dibden, associate director at the Newcastle office of Lichfields, who secured planning permission and listed building consent on behalf of DMA, said the project will provide welcome community facilities, and help to safeguard Durham’s important industrial legacy.