By james art A Grade II listed miners’ hall undergoing a multi-million pound restoration will now not be ready until Christmas after suffering several setbacks.
Miners’ New Hall – known locally as Redhills – in Durham city is being transformed into a heritage and education center as part of a £10m project.
However, as the 109-year-old building is in a worse condition than previously thought, work is expected to be completed in early 2025.
The building, which was built when Durham’s coalfield employed more than 150,000 workers, is home to Pitman Parliament and plays an important role in the region’s mining heritage.
The project is expected to cost £8m, but rising costs mean the total will be around £10m.
In March, the organizers announced they hoped it would be ready by Christmas.
The building’s condition was previously described as being in a “state of disrepair and threat”, with significant investment required to preserve its heritage.
Along with costs, expansion work has been adjusted in line with inflationary pressures.
The proposed larger western extension is “not currently viable” but the Durham Miners’ Association (DMA) – which has its headquarters in the building – said it had not “reduced” its ambitions for the site.
Ross Forbes, program director of the DMA, said: “We have had to backtrack a bit on the full plan, but we are continuing to build the larger extension on the east side. With fair winds, we should reopen in the spring.
“It would have provided more space for teaching and community, but we will continue after that in a second phase.”
The changes were made in consultation with Durham County conservation officers and the smaller extension “has been designed with the same architectural quality, detail and features as the wider scheme”.
The National Lottery’s Legacy Fund has provided key funding for the rebuilding costs from 2020, according to Local Democracy Reporting Office.