THE former NatWest Bank building in Barnard Castle is undergoing repairs after a change of ownership.
The building has stood empty for almost four years.
Raby Estate last week confirmed it had taken ownership of the property.
A spokesperson for Raby Estate said: “We can confirm that Raby Estate has recently acquired the property in Barnard Castle’s Market Place, which formerly housed a NatWest bank branch.
“Important work is being undertaken to ensure this building, which has a prominent position in the historic market town, is secured, safeguarded and repaired. A decision will then be made regarding the building and its future use.”
About 500 people signed a petition against the bank’s closure in May 2018 and the issue was raised in Parliament by the then MP for Teesdale, Helen Goodman.
At the time NatWest said the branch maintained only 69 customers, but the figure was disputed by people who used the bank. They claimed queues inside stretched to the front door on some days.
The property was put to auction after the closure and was bought by a businessman from Darlington, before being sold on to Raby Estate.
