The Remaking Beamish project at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North in County Durham has been named the winner of a major award for its environmentally friendly building work. This recognition highlights how the museum successfully combined modern green technology with traditional history.
Announced by Durham County Council on 9 March 2026, the museum won the prize for its sustainable buildings at the 2025 County Durham Environment Awards. This project is the largest building effort in the history of the museum, focusing on making the site better for the environment.
The award recognises how the site used modern features like renewable energy and high levels of insulation while still keeping the historical buildings looking authentic. This work was completed with the help of the National Lottery Heritage Fund to ensure the museum stays a key part of the region.
The project has proven popular with the public, attracting more than 800,000 visitors across 2024 and 2025. These high numbers help support local shops and businesses in the area while showing that old buildings can be updated to protect the environment.
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