Proposals to safeguard future of building

A major repairs scheme to safeguard the future of the historic Pitman’s Parliament has been lodged with council planners.

Opened in 1915, Durham Miners Hall, also known as Redhills, housed a council chamber where colliery delegates took important decisions that transformed the area.

This ranged from building homes and welfare halls to setting up community hospitals and libraries.

In recent years, a campaign was launched to save the Grade II-listed building after it was revealed urgent repairs were needed – with the site’s future hanging in the balance.

Repairs also aimed to pave the way for the Durham Miners’ Association’s (DMA) wider vision to create a community and arts hub on the site.

In 2019, Durham County Council supported the project, offering £1.1million match funding to complement existing DMA fundraising.

Earlier this year, an initial lottery grant of £400,000 was confirmed to enable emergency repairs and allow progress towards a second stage of funding worth around £3.8million.

In late March, the project took another step forward after a planning application was lodged for listed building consent for repairs on site.

A heritage statement, submitted to council planners, notes “water ingress” in the roof of the council chamber and “breaches” in other parts of the building.

Under the plans, a temporary roof is set to be put in place with all Westmorland slates replaced to match existing – with materials salvaged where possible.