MULTI-million pound plans to create three new attractions at one of the North-East’s premier tourist destinations look set to get the go-ahead next week (Tuesday, April 5).

Beamish Museum’s £17 million expansion, which would include a 1950s town, 1820s area and upland farm, has won the support of Durham County Council planners, who have recommended councillors give the scheme the green light.

The County Durham open-air museum opened in 1970 and has been added to regularly ever since, but the latest expansion represents one of the biggest in its 46-year history.

The 1950s town would include a trolleybus, cinema, terraced houses, shops, aged miners’ homes, garages, a bowls pavilion and green, community centre and recreation ground and be situated near the popular 1910s town.

The cinema would be moved from Sunderland, the aged miners’ homes would replicate some from South Shields, the community centre would be a replica of Bishop Auckland’s Leeholme Welfare Hall and the terrace would include a replica of the late “pitmen painter” Norman Cornish’s Spennymoor home.

The 1820s area, to the south-east of the site, would comprise a coaching inn, windmill, pottery, blacksmith’s, candle house, lime kiln and thatched cottage.

The upland farm, inspired by those in Weardale, would be in the centre of the site, which lies between Chester-le-Street and Stanley.

Museum bosses, who have seen visitor numbers rise from 500,000 in 2011-12 to 656,000 in 2014-15, hope the new attractions will create the equivalent of 95 full-time jobs and 50 apprenticeships and bring in another 100,000 visitors a year.

In a statement to the council, Beamish said: “Beamish was formed with a unique and warm relationship with the people of the North-East and a shared passion for the outstanding heritage of the region.

“We believe the Remaking Beamish is a natural continuation of this relationship and vision and will take the museum forward as an important and excellent attraction for the county, the region and the country.”

In a report to councillors, Planning Officer Nick Graham says the council seeks to support Beamish and the proposals would increase the standing of the museum and bring economic benefits to the surrounding area and county.

The council’s County Planning Committee will debate the proposals at County Hall on Tuesday (April 5) at 1pm.