New images reveal first look at ‘much needed’ new homes in County Durham

Plans for dozens of ‘much needed’ new bungalows in a former County Durham mining village have been submitted for approval.

The development will see housing associations Karbon Homes and Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association (DAMHA) deliver a mix of 43 affordable detached and semi-detached bungalows on land west of Salters Lane in Trimdon.

Supported by planning specialist Hedley Planning Services, the proposal submitted provides a much-needed boost to local housing stock and has been welcomed by the local community at a public consultation event.

Plans are for a design to create a viable development on a two-hectare plot that will also help to meet the need for more energy efficient housing in the area.

Lea Smith, head of land and partnerships at Karbon Homes, commented: “We’re pleased to be submitting this exciting planning proposal for new affordable bungalows in Trimdon, bringing much-needed accessible and adaptable homes to the village which enable local people to remain living independently for longer.

“20 of the bungalows will be managed by ourselves and 23 will be managed by Durham Aged Miners Homes Association and kept exclusively available for residents over 55. We have a strong working relationship with DAMHA and look forward to partnering with them to bring this scheme to fruition.”

A key feature of the scheme will be off-site highways improvements, including speed humps to reduce speeds through the village and a new pedestrian crossing, designed to improve road safety, offer safer site access and deliver a range of new amenities and services for local people.

There will also be parking spaces for residents’ vehicles and 14 visitor bays together with significant new street landscaping and replacement tree planting, planned as part of a submission that is expected to be considered by Durham County Council this December.

If it gets the green light, construction work could follow shortly after with the first phase of homes available in July 2025. The project comes as the Government continues to push for the delivery of new homes to meet the chronic housing shortage.

The development will be supported with funding from the government’s housing and regeneration agency, Homes England. Through a strategic partnership with the agency, Karbon has secured funding to deliver 2,220 new affordable homes across the North East and Yorkshire by 2028.

Alex Franklin, senior planner at Hedley Planning, said more affordable housing was urgently needed to meet demand: “Our plans for Trimdon will be good news for local people, who are keen to get on the housing ladder or move up the property ladder in places where they want to live and build communities.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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