The plans aim to preserve the Herrington Burn site while providing modern offices
The former Philadelphia Miners Welfare Institute which will become Enterprise House.(Image: Building Design Northern)
A derelict former miners’ welfare institute on Wearside is set to be brought back to life as office space for a driving school.
The 100 year-old former Philadelphia Miners Welfare Institute in Herrington Burn is currently in a state of disrepair. But Sunderland architectural design and structural engineering firm Building Design Northern has developed plans for an extensive makeover on behalf of its client, the UK driving school operator Pass n Go.
The vision for ‘Enterprise House’ includes remodelling the two-storey building to provide modern office space and meeting rooms, as well as open-plan facilities and staff amenities to the first floor including a mezzanine-level boardroom. And with planning permission in place, outside there will be bike storage, car parking for nine vehicles and landscaping works.
Hannah Thompson of Building Design Northern, explained: “The building is a great example of a former miners’ welfare institute that once stood at the heart of many mining communities up and down the country. Its strong character and facade exemplify the architectural design that was prominent and typical of the early 1900s, and we’re delighted to have been appointed by Pass n Go to design and deliver appropriate plans for this site.
“Our designs will retain, preserve and restore the building’s rich industrial heritage and many historic features including stone window surrounds, a large central focal window and other decorative elements both internally and externally.”
CGIs show the vision for open plan facilities inside the former Philadelphia Miners Welfare Institute.(Image: Building Design Northern)
The institute was built in 1926 and is said to be typical of the type scattered across northern mining towns during the last century. Like others it became the heart of the coalfield community as a place to socialise, to learn and as a library. During the height of Britain’s industrial period, miners’ institutes were mostly operated by miners’ groups who offered a proportion of their wages into a welfare fund to support the construction, maintenance and general running of the buildings.
Having already been turned into offices some years ago, the Herrington Burn property has stood empty but will now benefit from extensive renovations and retrofit upgrades. It has original red brick, stonework and asymmetrical frontage and is regarded by many as a non-designated local heritage asset.