Former civic hall to reopen as community venue
Stuart BoultonA former town hall is to be brought back into use after a council agreed to hand over the building to a community group.
Stanley Civic Hall, in County Durham, will now be run by Lamplights Arts Centre Ltd, which is to turn the site into a venue for sports, stage productions and events.
The building, also known as the Lamplight Arts Centre, requires significant investment to bring it back into use after falling into disrepair, Durham County Council said.
Councillor James Rowlandson said it was important to find someone who could take the building on because "residents in Stanley have strong community connections" to it.
The building had previously been leased to Stanley Town Council from 2015 to 2024.
But it suffered from a number of issues including holes in its roof, leaking water and a broken heating system.
It was estimated repairing the site would cost £1m, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Lamplight was one of four bidders to submit an offer for the site and the organisation will receive a grant from the council to redevelop the building.
"Lamplight Arts Centre Ltd offered the widest community use in its bid for the building, offering the best value and community benefit," said Rowlandson.
"As well as offering a place where local people can come together and enjoy a range of arts and cultural activities, a redeveloped Lamplight Centre will also support the regeneration and economic development of the town centre."