Plans to demolish a County Durham village hall have been lodged with the council.

The Upper Teesdale Community Association has submitted a proposal to knock down Middleton-in-Teesdale Village Hall, saying the hall's current dilapidated state poses a health and safety risk.

The demolition is planned to start on January 19, 2025, with completion expected by March 31, 2025.

It is set to be dismantled using both mechanical and manual methods by a licensed contractor, with all waste being disposed of offsite at a licensed facility.

Once the site is clear, temporary fencing will be installed to secure the area and stop parking, considering its proximity to a public highway and a primary school.

The demolition is intended to make way for a future rebuild project, for which a separate planning application will be submitted at a later date.

Plans also include tree removals, which involve cutting down trees identified as being in poor structural condition or conflicting with the planned development area.

The trees to be removed include Trees 11 and 12, and Group 1, which is a collection of mature holly trees.

All trees on the site have been confirmed as not having any Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), and the site is outside the Middleton-in-Teesdale Conservation Area, as verified with Durham County Council.

The removal of conflicting vegetation and pruning of retained trees is to be carried out in accordance with British Standards. Despite no signs of bats, nesting birds have been observed, and guidelines have been provided to ensure their disturbance is avoided and contractors are required to conduct pre-work checks.

A consultant is to oversee all sensitive stages, including the installation of protective barriers, hand excavation near roots, and any service installation within root protection areas.

The village hall is located at Town End, Middleton-in-Teesdale.

The full application can be viewed on Durham County Council’s planning portal using reference: PP-13544708.