BaR News Round-up September 2023

Laurel Building, South Church Road, Bishop Auckland, County Durham DL14 7JU

This grade II listed building had been empty since 2000 and in 2007 was gutted by fire, but after ensuring that the remains of the damaged building were weather proofed in 2010, Durham Council sought expressions of interest to convert the site for housing. Darlington based Railway Housing Association proposals for 16 two-bedroom bungalows and 12 apartments on the site for over 55s were subsequently approved. This year, the building finally completed its journey from stripped back ruin to full redevelopment.  The scheme has made the most of the few elements which remain of the original building and the new buildings around the old school look well designed and in keeping with the area.  

The Old Gas Works, School Lane, Sudbury, Derbyshire, DE6 5HZ

In 2019 The Old Gas Works was awarded £1.6 million to restore the buildingns and bring them back into use as a community resource. The gasworks is now running a series of interesting events and is taking part in the Heritage Open Days 2023 on 16 September. Further information can be found here.

Bretby Art Pottery Showroom, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 8BX

This attractive building, built in around 1900, was once the showroom of the Bretby Art Pottery which had a national – even international - reputation and operated from 1883 up until 1996. Bretby Art Pottery was one of the leading producers of Arts and Crafts ceramics, specialising in coloured slipware and pieces with special effects such as bamboo.

After a number of years of promising work and assessment of options, a project has taken shape led by the Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust with funding assistance from the Architectural Heritage Fund and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.  There are reported tio be plans to turn the former showroom into a pub. Further information can be found here. 

Engine House, Great Northern Railway, Great Northern Road, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1 1LZ

In excellent news for this huge and long disused site, a planning application which would see the restoration of the listed Engine House and the associated warehouse has been submitted to Derby City Council. Having stood empty for decades, in 2021 an application for listed building consent was submitted for repairs and stabilisation work to the Engine House and the warehouse and these works were subsequently carried out.  The developers began to develop plans for the whole site including the Engine Shed and warehouses and in last year's update, we noted that further news was awaited.  The proposed scheme now under consideration is for 274 apartments and terraced houses with 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms. Find the application here.