A charity has won a four year battle to gain listed protection for a Durham City building.
The Twentieth Century Society (C20 Society) has been campaigning for Dunelm House and launched a campaign to save the landmark Brutalist building from demolition.
Sitting on the banks of the River Wear, the concrete building has housed Durham University’s student union since 1966.
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In 2016 the university applied for a certificate of immunity from listing the building, saying it would cost £15m to repair and redesign the building to make it fit for purpose.
Instead, the university wanted to knock the building down and start again with a new build.
But the C20 Society - a charity that works for the preservation of architectural heritage - launched a campaign saying the building deserved to be listed.
Despite Historic England recommending the building for Grade-II listing, the Secretary of State disagreed, and refused to list it.
But the charity appealed the decision and it has now led to the building being listed at Grade II.
Clare Price, who is head of casework at C20 Society, said: “I am delighted that the Society’s campaign to persuade the minister to list Dunelm House has finally been successful.
"It is such a striking building in a stunning location and fully deserves recognition at a national level.
"This result makes the hard work and tenacity of all involved worthwhile despite the long wait.
"We look forward to working with the university to identify ways the building can continue in use as there are so many exciting possibilities for it.”
Professor Stuart Corbridge, Vice-Chancellor and Warden, Durham University, said it is now working through options for the building.
He added: “Durham University is a responsible custodian of a large and historic estate.
"We manage over 300 buildings, 62 of which are listed, and we also jointly manage a World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral.
“We take decisions on the future of our estate with great care and following wide consultation with interested stakeholders and the public.
“The Secretary of State’s decision to list Dunelm House as Grade-II, which notes there are divided opinions on Brutalist buildings, has given us much to consider as we shape our future investment strategy.”
