Delayed military museum set to reopen in summer
Durham County CouncilA revamped military museum is due to open this summer, 10 years after it closed to visitors.
The former Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum at Aykley Heads, Durham, was renamed The Light as part of a major redevelopment project.
It previously housed the collection of DLI artefacts but closed in 2016 as part of cost-cutting measures after falling into a state of disrepair.
Ben Kelsey, Durham County Council's senior manager for projects and performance, said the project had been affected by "supply chain pressures and challenges in the construction sector" but was on track to open later this year.
During renovation work, the building was stripped down to its basic structure and almost completely rebuilt.
Construction was previously expected to be completed in late 2025 and the venue to open in early spring.
Kelsey told an economy and enterprise scrutiny committee the site was now due for "practical completion in March" and would open in the summer.
He said: "Supply chain pressures and challenges in the construction sector have affected the construction in key stages of its delivery.
"The existing building, when it was stripped back, had a number of challenges and issues which added pressures in terms of cost and time."
A cafe and shop will open alongside exhibition areas, galleries, studios and teaching spaces.
Between 80,000 and 100,000 visitors are expected to visit the site each year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
The local authority, which has been controlled by Reform UK since May, said the site would be a multi-purpose cultural space and serve as a hub for creativity and innovation.
