Member Article

More new homes for Durham regeneration partnership

The Durham Villages Regeneration Company (DVRC) has completed the purchase of land in Bowburn which will be developed as homes for sale and rent.

Amended plans for the site to the south of Oakfield Crescent, which represents a £5 million investment in the village, were remodelled in response to local consultation and received planning approval last month.

Several two-storey terraced houses will be replaced with bungalows in the 40 home development, which will comprise two, three and four bedroomed homes - including two for discounted sale and six for rent through Cestria Housing.

The final go-ahead for the Bowburn project – DVRC’s sixth in the village - follows approval for another £11m development at Sherburn Hill, where 81 two, three and four bedroomed homes – five for affordable rent – are now being built.

DVRC is a partnership between Durham County Council and developer Keepmoat which has, over the past 18 years, delivered a £100 million, housing-led regeneration initiative in the county.

Keepmoat Land and Partnerships Director, Ian Prescott, commented: “Both developments have been brought forward on the back of extensive public consultation and discussion and they will bring much needed affordable housing to the county.

“At Bowburn we worked with the council to address some local concerns about proximity to existing homes and have been able to increase the distance between properties and reduce the impact of the development for those who will overlook it by introducing a number of bungalows.

“Once again this scheme will improve the quality and choice of housing in the county and help meet the ever increasing demand for new homes. Construction work has now begun and a show home is expected to open in August 2015.

The homes for sale have attracted local buyers, keeping communities together. On average 55% of all sales have been to people living within 10 miles. However they have also brought new residents to old villages, providing a kick start to local economies and filling empty places in schools.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .