Bishop Auckland Town Hall listed Grade 1 by the Department of the Environment as a building of national importance forming part of the Market Place group, Franco-Flemish style with corner towers, steeply pitched roofs incorporating dormer windows and spirelet above above the main entrance, has changed little in 130 years- although the interior has undergone several changes. During 1990/91, Wear Valley District Council entered a joint initiative with Durham County Council to alter and refurbish the building to provide a multi-purpose complex of community facilities comprising a library, tourist information office, performance area, function/meeting rooms, gallery and exhibition space. Ainsworth Spark won a limited competition for the design in 1990 and subsequently appointed to the project. It has won several major awards since completion. The project included restoration, refurbishment and new build. The multi-purpose use of the building was demanding on the installation of services and the instability of the original structure required complex stabilisation. Cost approximately 3 million pounds.