Durham County Council's planning committee has unanimously approved a proposal to build a new affordable housing development on the site of a cleared estate in Newton Hall, near Durham city. The scheme, brought forward by local provider Believe Housing, will deliver a mix of bungalows and houses intended to replace the former properties on a one-for-one basis.
What will be built
The development comprises 22 dwellings, all designated as affordable, with the following mix:
- 3 two-bedroom bungalows
- 10 two-bedroom houses
- 6 three-bedroom houses
- 3 four-bedroom houses
Access will be taken from Farnham Road and each home will have its own off-street parking. The application also proposes additional visitor parking bays to ease pressure on neighbouring streets.
Council and developer position
Members of the planning committee praised the scheme, with Mark Wilkes, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Framwellgate and Newton Hall, welcoming the developer's responsiveness to concerns about parking. In its planning statement, the applicant said the development would replace older properties with "attractive affordable homes" and contribute to housing needs across the county.
"The proposed development of 22 dwellings would provide a sustainable community that is responsive to local character and community aspirations, whilst being fully policy-compliant and contributing to Durham's county-wide housing targets, particularly through the provision of 100 per cent affordable dwellings."
Local implications
The decision restores housing capacity on the cleared site without increasing the overall number of homes in the locality, since the scheme replaces the demolished units on a like-for-like basis. The move to provide in-curtilage parking for every dwelling responds directly to longstanding complaints from residents about reliance on on-street parking around the estate.
For local residents and the council, the scheme represents an opportunity to renew housing stock while meeting wider policy goals on affordability. The approval will also be monitored by councillors and the developer as construction progresses to ensure promised parking and layout improvements are delivered.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total dwellings | 22 |
| Affordable proportion | 100% |
| Access | Farnham Road with off-street parking |
The planning committee's unanimous vote indicates cross-party support for the redevelopment. Implementation timescales and the construction timetable will be released by Believe Housing in due course.
