North East contractor Meldrum Construction Services Limited has landed a £12m contract to restore 900-year-old Auckland Castle in Bishop Auckland.

The award from the Auckland Castle Trust is part of a wider £70m programme to regenerate the historic site.

Meldrum has an annual turnover of around £30m and specialises in Grade I and Grade II listed buildings.

Managing Director Dave Meldrum said: “We are delighted to have won this prestigious contract and are now looking at ways in which we can involve the local community and maximise the opportunities we can offer them while working in Bishop Auckland.”

Around half of Meldrum’s current 190 employees, including time-served carpenters, bricklayers, welder/fabricators, ground workers, plant operators and electricians, will be involved in the Auckland Castle project.

Meldrum will be working alongside overall project managers, Turner & Townsend and lead consultant and conservation accredited architects, Purcell.

Geoff Brown, Area Manager for Turner & Townsend, said:  “The restoration of Auckland Castle is a significant project for us, incorporating both a wide range of repairs, replacements and redecoration to the existing castle, and the construction of an extension to create contemporary gallery space.”

Work is set to start on site in September.