Work to preserve former newspaper building begins

The former home of the Northern Echo newspaper is to be turned into an adult skills hub

Work to turn a former newspaper building into a new adult skills hub has begun.

Scaffolding has been erected around the former Northern Echo building in Darlington as part of work to restore it.

Asbestos from the site has been removed paving the way for new windows and a roof to be installed alongside preservation work to the frontage.

Once completed, the skills hub will contain more than a dozen classrooms for use by Learning & Skills Darlington and Darlington College, as well as business accommodation for about 600 workspaces.

It will include features such as solar panels, battery storage and greywater recycling and filtration systems to reduce waste water.

During the work, footpaths around the building on Priestgate and Crown Street will be closed until the second quarter of next year.

Three disabled parking bays on Crown Street will also be unavailable.

The work is being funded by the government and the Tees Valley Combined Authority.

Angela Howey, the Town Board chair, said: "Fantastic progress is being made on this flagship regeneration project which will breathe new life into an iconic Darlington landmark."