Newton Aycliffe town centre has confirmed that the final phase of its current redevelopment has re-started.
Bosses say the demolition of Churchill House is now taking place – several months behind schedule.
The town centre told Aycliffe Today in June last year that the third phase of the £10m redevelopment, which would retain the clock tower, was due to be completed in August 2015.
But design complications held back the programme which was only expected to last 14 weeks.
Once completed, Durham County Council will begin fitting out a new library and cafe in what was the old Post Office building in Beveridge Arcade.
A statement from town centre manager Bryan Haldane said: “The owners of Aycliffe Town Centre are pleased to confirm that following substantial design work on securing the future of the much loved and iconic Town Centre Clock Tower we can now restart the demolition works of Churchill House, which is currently supporting the tower, and the creation of a new access point to the Town Centre from Stephenson Way.
“On completion of the demolition works in the summer of 2016, part of the site will be handed over to DCC for a contractor’s compound in order that DCC might commence the alterations and extension of the Leisure Centre to create a new Library.
“All of the works are expected to be complete by the end of the year.”