Liberal Democrat councillors in Newton Aycliffe are delighted that the County Council’s new HQ in Durham can now be sold after planning permission for a change of use was passed. This now allows its sale to Durham University.
The £50 million headquarters was built on The Sands in Durham City by the previous administration, a decision which many say contributed to Labour losing control of Durham County Council for the first time ever in May 2021.
Lib Dem councillor, Michael Stead, a member of the joint administration now running Durham Council, explains, “Practically no one wanted the HQ. £50m of taxpayers money was wasted on it. I’m delighted to be part of the administration now selling it to Durham University for a significant profit.”
The Councils’ County Planning Committee approved a change of use application on Tuesday which was the last obstacle to the sale of the building to the University.
Labour councillors voted against the change of use application despite officers making it clear that the application for a change of use met with both local and national planning policy.
The planning application was passed by nine votes to two, with only Labour councillors voting against the application.
Instead of moving into the new HQ, the new joint administration, now running the County Council, plan to move staff into a new building almost complete at Aykley Heads, build a much smaller civic centre and regenerate a run-down council building in Stanley.
The plans will result in lower costs for the County Council which joint administration councillors say no longer needs a building as big as the Sands HQ.
All remaining revenue from the sale of the HQ will be invested into regenerating towns and villages across the county.
Fellow Lib Dem Councillor, Nev Jones, adds, “We are also supporting a bid for funding from government to sort out Aycliffe town centre. Spreading out investment across the county and fixing the wrongs of the previous administration are essential if we are to turn around our town and our county. For far too long County Durham has underperformed economically. After 100 years of Labour running the show we can now finally move forward, regenerate our town and sell that horrendous HQ building which no one wanted.”