EXPERTS leading research into clean energy sources have urged the new owners of a ‘key County Durham site’ earmarked for an eco-village to keep exploring its potential.

It is believed the former Lafarge Cement Works at Eastgate, in Weardale, has been sold privately, creating uncertainty about the future of plans to develop homes, business and leisure facilities powered by five forms of renewable energy at the site.

The 431-hectare site was scheduled to be auctioned this afternoon (Thursday, March 26) at Savills, in Nottingham, with a £1.4m guide price ‘unless sold prior’ but was withdrawn from the sale.

BritGeothermal, a partnership of universities with the British Geological Survey, has called for continued exploration of Eastgate as a source of geothermal energy, which uses heat from rocks underground to produce power.

The site has two of the UK’s most recently drilled boreholes which have been important for studying the nature and geothermal potential of buried granite.

Dr Charlotte Adams is research manager for BritGeothermal, based at Durham University’s department of earth sciences.

She said: “The boreholes at Eastgate are an important resource for understanding the UK’s geothermal potential.

“Both the BritGeothermal partnership and Durham Energy Institute agree that Geothermal energy can help the UK become more self-sufficient and resilient with respect to energy in the future.

“We therefore hope that any subsequent site owner will view the boreholes as an asset and continue to support their use for research and development purposes.”

The closure of the cement works in 2002 came as a devastating blow to the upper Dale and left more than 150 people out of work.

Job creation remains the priority for Durham County Councillor for Weardale, John Shuttleworth.

He said: “Over the past 13 years around £2m of public money has been used to eventually arrive at the mixed development site which whilst not ideal to all was going to create something as opposed to nothing.

“If it has been sold to a private group it does at least mean that they are more likely to do something with it, I just want something to start happening there that will create much needed jobs.”

Lafarge Tarmac was unable to confirm whether a private sale had been agreed before the planned auction.

But a spokesperson said: "It is correct that Weardale has benefited from public sector funding, alongside significant investment from our business.

“The original intention was for the public sector to take on the site once planning was in place. “However, public sector cuts since 2010 meant that the partners and funding to do this were no longer in place.

“As a result, over the past five years, we have stepped in to manage the site and have committed substantial additional funds to maintain it, so that it's available for future development.”

Durham County Council has said it wants to work with any new owners on potential development opportunities in accordance with the existing planning consent.