Former department store building development hopes
BBCA derelict department store building has been added to a catalogue of historic sites in the hope it can be sold.
The former Beales store on Newgate Street in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, is Grade II listed and has stood empty since 2017.
The building has been included in Historic England's Heritage Investment Prospectus in an attempt to attract a new buyer.
Reform UK's Lyndsey Fox, cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said Durham County Council was open to working with any prospective buyers as part of efforts to regenerate the town.
"We recognise the importance of the former Beales department store, both in terms of its rich heritage and the prominent position it occupies within the town," she said.
"Our economic development, planning and conservation teams are working closely with Historic England to explore future uses for the building."
Original staircase
The Heritage Investment Prospectus showcases historic sites and buildings across England where owners are actively seeking investment partners or buyers, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Fox said the local authority welcomed the "increased visibility" Historic England had provided by including the building in the brochure.
The Gothic Revival-style building was built in 1873 by the Bishop Auckland Co-operative Society and was extended over the next 30 years.
Historic England said the building retained a range of historic fixtures and fittings, including plasterwork, joinery and its original public staircase.
Planning permission was granted in 2019 for two possible redesigns, but work stalled on both plans.
One aimed to turn the building into 27 apartments, while the other would have created a 62-bed hotel.
It is hoped the redevelopment of the site would lead to wider regeneration of the town centre.
Historic England said: "The vacancy of this former department store is one of the reasons the conservation area is on the national Heritage At Risk Register; its revival would bring about broader benefits."