Chester-le-Street's civic centre finally faces demolition after conservationists fail to save it

A FUTURISTIC council headquarters is set to be demolished next week (November 3) after the fight to save it was lost.

Chester-le-Street Civic Centre, offices of the now-defunct Chester-le-Street District Council, won several awards when it was built in the early 1980s.

The distinctive steel-framed aluminium and glass structure was in use until late last year when Durham County Council, which took it over in 2008 following the countys local government shake-up, opened a customer access point in Front Street premises shared with Cestria Community Housing.

Demolition was due to start earlier this year but was postponed after conservationists asked English Heritage to designate it a Grade II Listed Building.

The 20th Century Societys bid was rejected by English Heritage, which said the building was not sufficiently important.

Architect Neal Taylor, a partner at Newcastle-based Faulkner Browns who spearheaded the campaign to save it, said: It is a landmark building in terms of civic architecture.

Obviously circumstances have changed politically now, but it seems such a shame. It is very sad.

When it was designed the (district) council were very keen to make a change from the traditional civic offices and wanted to be seen as modern, current and transparent.

The design was around a public street where the public could have a coffee and all the workings of the council were on display there was nowhere to hide. It was the publics building as much as anybody elses.

The council wanted people to feel comfortable coming in as opposed to being treated on any form of secondary level.

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Chester-le-Street's civic centre finally faces demolition after conservationists fail to save it