County Durham Housing Group’s £54m homes investment set to break 100 barrier

New-build programme is on track for its 100th new affordable home by the end of 2018.

A major investment in new homes by one of the region’s largest housing associations is set to top the symbolic 100 homes figure this month.

County Durham Housing Group’s ambitious new-build programme is expected to complete its 100th new affordable home by the end of 2018. The £54m programme is constructing more than 550 affordable properties by 2021 in communities stretching from rural Weardale to the Durham coast.

Work on sites at West End Villas in Crook and Whinney Hill in Durham are currently approaching conclusion. The 100th home is likely to be completed at one of these sites before Christmas.

At West End Villas a mix of family homes and bungalows are being constructed, both with two and three-bedrooms. At Whinney Hill, County Durham Housing Group has been working with private developer Charles Church to provide a number of affordable two-bedroom flats in a larger project at its Cathedral View development.

Already new homes have been completed in communities as diverse as Rookhope in upper Weardale and Chilton Moor near Houghton-le-Spring. Construction is also advancing on new homes in Peterlee, Seaham and Bowburn. Preparations for construction to start on a 50-home brownfield site in Murton and a smaller site in Willington are under way too.

In total 18 sites have been identified for new homes to date, with the ethos of the programme focused on smaller developments to meet specific community needs. The construction plan also includes a number of bungalows, many of them wheelchair adaptable, which are out of fashion amongst many private sector developers.

County Durham Housing Group Chief Executive, Bill Fullen said: “We’ve all read about just how badly this country needs extra affordable housing. County Durham has its own unique requirements and our new-build programme is designed to make major inroads into meeting them.

“The whole programme focuses on building the right homes in the right places. We’ve already proved how relatively small developments like our recently completed family homes in Pity Me, just outside of Durham, can make a major difference to a community.

“We intend to carry the same ethos throughout the programme by carefully matching our construction with the needs of each neighbourhood. It’s the only way that we can effectively tackle the housing crisis.”

The full building programme is expected to create more than 60 construction jobs. A number of local contractors have been involved in the projects to date, creating a direct benefit for the local economy.

Most of the new homes will be purpose-built on sites owned by the group, with some collaboration with private sector house builders to help secure affordable homes on their developments too.

Board Chair of County Durham Housing Group, Judith Common, said: “When we choose where to create new homes we look at the need for affordable properties and think about what’s right for the long-term future of that community.”

View current properties available with County Durham Housing Group on MovingSoon.

Oringinal article published by Chronicle Live.

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