Wrecking crew moves in to demolish eyesore former pub in Seaham

The former Drive 2 Data building was left badly damaged by a blaze.

Durham County Council has this morning, Tuesday, October 22, begun work to knock down the Drive 2 Data building, formerly known as the Noah’s Ark public house, in North Railway Terrace in Seaham.

Owners of fire-hit eyesore building in Seaham ordered to knock it down

The council has said it is taking the action after the owners of the property failed to comply with legal notices requiring them to carry out the work themselves.

A photo issued by Durham County Council as it moves in to knock down the former Noah's Ark pub in Seaham.

The owners were issued with a notice in August last year requiring them to remove and cease storage of vehicles to the rear of the Drive 2 Data building; demolish the buildings and remove all demolition waste; and leave the site free from all rubble and other such materials.

The notice was issued in response to concerns about the condition of the building, which is in a prominent location in the town and within a conservation area.

When the owners failed to comply with the notice, the council took legal action.

The owners subsequently pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the requirements of a Section 215 notice when they appeared at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court in July.

Durham County Council has moved in to knock down the Drive 2 Data building in North Railway Street in Seaham.

They received conditional discharges and were ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £170.

Following the case, the council gave the owners until the end of September to demolish the building.

However, they did not meet the new deadline and have still not complied with the notice.

In line with its legal obligations, the council has, therefore, taken the decision to carry out the demolition work itself.

The owners will be required to reimburse the authority for the cost of the work.

Stuart Timmiss, head of development and housing, said: “The condition and appearance of the Drive 2 Data building has had a detrimental impact on the character of the area.

“The owners had numerous opportunities to carry out the demolition work themselves but didn’t do it and even admitted in court their failure to comply with the legal notice.

“Legal notices to demolish a property are only ever issued when the condition of the building means there is no viable option for its future and is it having a particularly adverse on the local area.

“It is, therefore, important that they are enforced, whether this is by the owners complying or the council carrying out the work itself.

“We have tried to work with the owners previously and that offer will remain open if they approach us with a viable option for the future of the site.

“We hope this can mark the start of a new chapter for this area.”