The £19m[1] facility was commissioned by the Foundation of Light, and became the headquarters of the charity when it opened in September 2018.

This prompted Foundation chief executive Lesley Spuhler to look to commission a bigger venue.

[4] Further investors included the North East Local Enterprise Partnership,[5] Arriva,[6] and Tombola.

[7] The Beacon was designed to provide both indoor and outdoor sporting facilities and spaces for both adult and school-level education.

The Beacon is designed in a cube shape with a luminous roof which lights up at night.