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£3.5 million art gallery in store for Auckland Castle redevelopment

Auckland Castle Trust has announced further redevelopment plans for the castle, with the inclusion of a £3.5 million gallery and a £1.5 million study area, according to the BBC.

There are pre-existing proposals for a £17 million museum at Auckland Castle in Bishop Auckland.

The Trust is seeking planning permission for additional schemes costing more than £7 million.

Auckland Castle Trust, which owns the former Bishop’s home, said it hoped the redevelopment would attract 130,000 visitors a year.

Building work is due to begin in 2015 and take about three years.

Trust chief executive David Ronn said: “Our aim in all this is to be a catalyst for the regeneration of Bishop Auckland and especially the historic and very fine Market Square.

“The work of the Trust over the last two years has created 40 jobs, with 80% of those employed living within 20 miles of the castle and there are many more to come.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .