(31 Jan 2023, 1:26 pm)Washingtonian wrote I think Lidl could easily build a store on the site of the former Chester le Street Depot. There are plans in place for them to build a Lidl store for the old depot in Stanley which is a smaller site (not sure if approved mind). Plus there is the cleared site of the former fuel shop next door between the Chester depot and the BP garage that could be used . I know Lidl want a store in C-L-S and realistically that is probably the biggest and best site they could hope for at the moment.
On another note, could GNE not use the site as an Engineering school or college? Last I heard they used to send apprentices to Coventry for their training at a college there. Not sure if this is still the case but it so it would save the expense of paying for the apprentices travel and accommodation. Maybe it could have dual use and be used as a transport museum maybe, which could be open at the weekends when the proposed school/college would be closed. Could help generate a bit of money and I'm sure a lot of enthusiasts would love it. Seems such a shame that a place with so much history could be reduced to rubble. I know this is very unlikely to happen but it's just a thought anyway.
Preserving buildings cost a fortune, especially when you're responsible for the upkeep and repair. It's listed at £1.95 million to start with, and that's in it's current state. We already know from press reports that the depot would require considerable investment to get it up to standard, but even at that, it's never going to be to a modern useful standard. Plus it's full of asbestos, which is another problem for a would-be preservationist to resolve.
There is of course funding/grants available, such as Heritage England and the Heritage Lottery Fund, but they don't hand out money for free or on the basis something should be kept. There needs to be a long-term future plan for it, and especially what benefits it is going to bring to the community. Doing something around training and education is one, but it doesn't come cheap, and you'd have the overheads of that on top of the upkeep and repair of a building.
I can't see it having a future in it's present form. It'd even be a waste of money for a lottery winner.