Member Article

Village winning regeneration game

Work is underway on the third phase of a £15 million housing led investment which is transforming a former Durham pit village – enabling it to once again live up to its triumphant name.

The commencement of the construction of 22 homes for rent, by the Durham Villages Regeneration Company (DVRC), along with 8 homes for sale marks the next phase of a master plan which was created to breathe new life into Esh Winning.

The new development, known as College View, complements another currently underway at Oak Green, where 21 houses are being built for sale. Meanwhile residents are already settled in to 9 highly eco-efficient bungalows - owned and managed by the Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association (DAMHA) - on a site behind the Co-operative store.

The Chairman of Durham County Council, Cllr. Dennis Morgan was joined by the Chairman of DVRC, Cllr. Neil Foster; local ward members Cllrs. Jean Chaplow and John Wilkinson and other DVRC representatives to officially start the latest project.

Said Cllr. Neil Foster: “The regeneration of this area is extremely important and providing housing which will bring younger families into Esh Winning is essential. A tremendous effort has gone into ensuring that the village will be restored to its full potential and I am extremely proud of the hard work carried out by all involved.”

DVRC is a partnership between Durham County Council and regeneration specialist Keepmoat. Over the past decade the company has driven a £100 million regeneration programme which has delivered over 1,000 homes of which approximately 25% have been for rent or shared ownership. Through land purchase and profit sharing this has generated more than £20 million for investment in community initiatives.

Richard Bass, Managing Director with Keepmoat Homes North East – the company which is building the homes – and a DVRC board member, added: “When College View is completed we will have built 60 new homes in Esh Winning in order to bring new families and investment into the village and support local business.”

The College View homes will be owned and managed by DAMHA and the Isos Housing Group. Brian Stobbs, Head of Asset Management with DAMHA, said: “We are delighted to be part of this new development, which is the 3rdone we have undertaken in Esh Winning in the last five years. As this involves the re-provision of homes to replace redundant houses, it is a crucial part of the regeneration of the village.”

Lea Smith, Development and Regeneration Manager, with Isos, added: “With the economy still struggling and household finances under a lot of pressure, it’s a vital time to be delivering affordable homes for this area. We can’t wait to get started on these new properties, and see them become part of the DVRC master plan for Esh Winning.”

The social housing elements of these developments have received funding from the Homes and Communities Agency.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Stephen Holland .