Plans to renovate a former Woolworths store in a County Durham town have been lodged with the council.

The project, led by Mr William Harris of Nulite Ltd, aims to refurbish the 1920s building on Church Street, Seaham.

Having closed as Woolworths in the 1980s, the store, which is part of Seaham's historic town centre conservation area, previously housed offices on the first floor and retail and leisure space on the ground floor.

The refurbishment is funded by a Lottery Grant under the Seaham Townscape Heritage Project, which aims to preserve historical structures.

Proposed changes include altering the internal layout, adding a new staircase to access the first-floor offices, and maintaining the ground floor for retail.

The rear yard will see adjustments for new vehicular access to a workshop area.

(Image: Blake Hopkinson Architecture) Most read

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Externally, the south-facing elevation will be restored using traditional materials to reflect the original look, including a new period-appropriate shopfront.

First-floor windows will be replaced with timber casement windows to match the building's historical style.

Stonework and brick facades will be repaired and repointed where necessary.

The rear yard will be remodelled with secure gated access for vehicles and a separate workshop entrance.

The flat roof will be upgraded with a single-ply membrane, and parapet walls will be repaired.

A small single-storey corridor extension at the rear will link the escape lobby to the yard.

This will not significantly affect the building's external appearance.

The rear yard will be resurfaced with concrete, and a new dropped kerb will be added at the new vehicular entrance.

The retail unit will have level access and an accessible WC on the ground floor, but the office entrance will include steps, limiting accessibility.

Construction is expected to take two to three months.

The building will be scaffolded for repair works, with necessary licences obtained for footpath closures.

The project emphasises maintaining and restoring the building's historical integrity while making modern upgrades, particularly to the shopfront and rear yard.