New Mount Oswald residential plans get first public show

Plans for the first phase of a £200m development in Durham City have gone on display for the first time.

Regional housebuilder David Wilson Homes is looking to build 61 detached, four and five-bedroom properties on a 12-acre portion at the southern end of the Mount Oswald site, and welcomed around 50 people to a public exhibition of the plans at the Mount Oswald Manor House.

The proposal would also include landscaping of this part of the site, as well as the creation of the first public open spaces, footpaths and sustainable urban drainage systems that were included in developer Banks Property’s masterplan for Mount Oswald, and in the construction of which Banks will be involved.

Work is expected to begin on site early in the new year, subject to the details of the scheme being finalised with Durham County Council, and the first occupants could be in their new homes before the end of 2014.

The overall Mount Oswald scheme, which was designed by Banks in support of the County Council’s vision of Durham City acting as a driver of economic growth in the county, will support more than 380 local jobs during and after its development, and will see more than £4.2million allocated by Banks to pay for substantial improvements for the local community.

As well as executive housing, the development will encompass an education quarter, new formal and informal public open spaces and a range of new community facilities.

Katie Perkin, communication manager at The Banks Group, adds: “This is the first phase of a landmark development that will bring significant new economic and employment benefits to the area, as well as a wide range of community improvements, and demand for these high quality properties is certain to be high.

“Planning for the development of further portions of the Mount Oswald site is well underway, and we will ensure all interested parties are fully informed once design work has been finalised for each element.”

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