Fate of historic County Durham building destroyed in cannabis farm fire remains unclear
Firefighters tackled the blaze at the former power station control centre on Haughton Road in May 2023
by Bill Edgar · ChronicleLiveIn the aftermath of a devastating fire at a historic building in Darlington, councillors have pledged their commitment to safeguarding the site's legacy.
Fire crews battled flames that engulfed the former power station control centre on Haughton Road back in May 2023, leaving much of the structure in ruins. Over a year later, however, there is still no clear decision on what the future holds for this landmark.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that Darlington Borough Council hasn't received any applications for demolishing the building, despite its desolate appearance with shattered and boarded-up windows becoming a blight on the landscape.
Local ward councillor Libby McCollom has highlighted the significance of the building which serves as a prominent entry point into the town, while expressing her dissatisfaction with its current dilapidated state. "It’s in a sorry state and it’s hard for people passing it every day," she commented.
"Something needs to be done about it. We can’t leave it as it is and it just doesn’t send the right message to residents and visitors."
The building's origins date back to 1940 when it was leveraged by the town council during its tenure overseeing electricity supply. Subsequently repurposed into office space for the adjacent Bannantyne gym, it again faced abandonment after Mr Bannatyne constructed new premises in 2013, leading to the sale of the control centre which fell back into disrepair.
Adding intrigue to the building's history, in March 2023 police unearthed an extensive cannabis farm within its walls worth an estimated £1.7 million.
Despite the devastation caused by the fire, a remnant of the building's storied past survives - a coat-of-arms plaque symbolising the council, borough, and town from 1867 to 1974 still adorns the front of the structure.
Park East councillor Libby McCollom and Matthew Roche have pledged to work with the council to preserve the site and have discussed placing notices on the building.
The ownership of the building is unclear and it is not part of Historic England’s National Heritage List. It was previously on sale for £30,000.
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