Transforming former County Durham school into business hub
Business Durham, the business support service for Durham County Council, has begun work on the former Rookhope Primary School to convert it into business units.
The refurbished building is scheduled to open in the summer and will provide five units for office and workspaces, opening up more opportunities for businesses in the Dales.
The premises will also feature two community rooms—a larger one for training and a smaller hot-desking room—alongside a kitchen and the potential for a small library or book swap area for community use.
Rookhope Business Centre (Image: Supplied)
Once up and running, the centre will be managed by Business Durham and could create up to 20 new jobs.
Councillor Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “We’re pleased to have started work to create a business hub for Rookhope and the wider Durham Dales, ensuring the former school building continues to be utilised in a way that benefits the community.
“With a shortage of commercial units across the county, this development will not only support up to five businesses but also create valuable employment in the area.
“And partnered with the recent approval of the Weardale Lithium scheme, these two projects have the potential to create local jobs for those living in rural areas.”
The new business centre will be managed by Kathryn Lowe-Oliver and Nicky Downey, Dales Centre supervisors at Business Durham.
For Kathryn, the project is particularly significant as she was born in Rookhope and attended the primary school where her mother was secretary for 30 years.
Her son also attended the school before its closure.
Councillor John Shuttleworth, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for rural communities, community safety, and highways, said: “Kathryn and Nicky already play an important role in supporting the Dales community.
“Having Kathryn as one of the new centre’s managers is the start of what we hope is a long line of local people being given the opportunities and jobs which allow them to work in the areas in which they live.
“Nicky and Kathryn already have an established link to the Dales community, which will help new and existing rural businesses gain the right support to grow and develop.”
Businesses and organisations can now register their interest in the business units by visiting www.businessdurham.co.uk.