Almost 200 high-quality, affordable homes are set to be delivered across County Durham.
Durham County Council has teamed up with housing providers to meet demand, with the building of properties all over the local authority area now close to completion.
The council has money available to deliver affordable housing through ‘Commuted Sums’ funding, whereby developers make financial contributions instead of building lower-cost homes.
Housing providers are then able to bid for the funding to help build new homes.
In 2019, the council awarded £176,000 to Durham Action on Single Housing (DASH), which also secured additional funding from Homes England, to complete the renovation of Hudson House in Gilesgate to provide four, one-bedroom self-contained flats which will be let at affordable rent to local people.
Believe Housing was separately awarded £472,675 to provide 195 homes at sites across the county.
The sites which have been funded by that money include:
• 12 two-bed bungalows at Howard Close, Bishop Auckland
• 10 three-bed homes at Surtees Avenue, Bowburn
• 24 two-bed bungalows, four three-bed bungalows and 22 three-bed homes in Truro Avenue, Murton
• 17 two-bed bungalows at St Godric’s, Newton Hall
• 12 three-bed houses at Matterdale Road, Peterlee
• 17 three-bed houses, 10 two-bed bungalows and two three-bed bungalows at Teign Close, Peterlee
• 14 three-bed houses at Tamar Close, Peterlee
• 30 three-bed homes, 16 two-bed bungalows and two three-bed bungalows in Parkside, Seaham
• Four two-bedroom bungalows at Davis Avenue, St Helen Auckland.
Cllr James Rowlandson, the council’s cabinet member for resources, investments and assets, said: “We are delighted that as part of our housing plan we are able to focus on providing new affordable housing to people across the county who may not be able to access mainstream affordable housing.
“It is an important aspect of our Housing Strategy that a mix of quality housing is on offer to residents in County Durham and these schemes boost that provision significantly, while also contributing to the economic recovery of the area following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We will always look to maximise every opportunity to support our communities.”
Gary Eaborn, chair of DASH, said: “We are delighted to have secured part funding from Durham County Council and Homes England to provide four more self-contained flats which are much needed in the area.
“We look forward to developing more affordable accommodation in the future.”
Land and partnerships business lead at believe housing, Tom Winter, said: “Receiving this funding helps us to continue our multi-award-winning new-build home programme.
“As a not-for-profit housing association, all of our income is reinvested in projects to benefit our customers and communities, as well as constructing new homes like these.
“Our focus is on construction projects that deliver long-term, sustainable benefits to communities.
“We concentrate on smaller, often brown-field sites, that private sector developers often aren’t attracted to. And in less than five years we’ve grown our construction programme from nothing to almost 250 homes a year.
“Working with Durham County Council helps us to deliver our goal of a life without barriers for more and more residents in County Durham.”