PLANS have been submitted to demolish a community centre.

Durham County Council wants to demolish Hunwick Community Centre as part of a review into all their buildings and assets.

The authority said the building, which is attached to Hunwick Primary School, is in dire need of repairs but the work would cost too much.

Gordon Elliott, head of partnerships and community engagement, said: “This building is part of the council’s asset transfer programme and we do not believe it can continue as it is as it needs substantial funding for repairs.”

Mr Elliott said the council had looked to see if a community group would want to take it over but to no avail.

He said: “We are keen to transfer community centres to a local management group made up of members of the community wherever possible, if this is a viable option.

“Over the last two years we have been working with the management committee attached to this building and have made an offer of funding to help progress asset transfer, however because of the overall scale of works needed for improvements the committee took the decision not to progress with this further.”

The council’s planning department will now assess the application to demolish officers hoping to start the demolition next month.

David Robinson from the council’s asbestos management unit said the footprint of the centre would be grassed over after demolition until a future use is found for the site.