Member Article

390 new homes planned for County Durham industrial estate

Plans have been submitted which could see part of a County Durham industrial estate make way for new homes.

Durham County Council (DCC) has identified the North East Industrial Estate, part of the Peterlee Business Park cluster of estates, as a potential site for 390 houses.

The plans are part of the authority’s aim to build the 1,830 new homes it says are required to meet demand in Peterlee and Horden – part of the 31,400 houses to be built across the county by 2030.

The Peterlee application focuses on a site along Stephenson Road, where some buildings are dilapidated and others have already been knocked down, but some businesses will need to move if the proposal goes ahead.

The council and Business Durham are reportedly asking firms to be affected to take part in confidential talks to discuss what they may need to relocate.

NTE Limited, which has been based on the land for 20 years, has said there should be a condition put in place to ensure financial compensation should be given for relocation.

It employs 27 people and three subcontractors, generating a turnover of £5.5million.

Kookaburra, which has undergone recent reinvestment, would continue to operate from its base on the estate, as would Walkers and a doughnut factory.

A new road would link Thorpe Road and Yoden Road to set up a better route for traffic, public transport, walkers and cyclists.

Last year, the council approved plans for 9,000 new homes on nearby land at Lowhills Road to the north of the industrial estate.

As part of its conditions, an agreement has been put in place to see £1.55million pumped into affordable housing and regeneration of the housing market in East Durham.

Because of that, the council say its proposal should not be subject to the requirement to provide 10 per cent of the industrial estate plot for affordable housing at this stage.

If approved, the council say £195,000 should be given towards play and recreation in the town and a recruitment campaign would be run.

The plans will be discussed on Tuesday, July 1, 2pm, at County Hall.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .