Plans to build 50 new affordable homes have been supported and praised for their impact on the Shildon community, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
A planning application for the new housing by Oaktree Living and social housing provider Karbon Homes was backed by a Durham County Council Planning Committee on Thursday (February 19).
The 100 per cent affordable housing scheme will be built on land to the north of Redworth Business Park in Shildon, and includes 35 social rent properties and 15 rent-to-buy units, where rents are set at 20% less than local market rent to provide residents with the opportunity to save towards a deposit.
The applicants said the new homes – a mix of bungalows, semi-detached and detached houses – will provide “significant social, economic and environmental benefits”. Initially, 53 homes were proposed for the site but the application was later reduced to 50.
A total of 15 objections were sent to the local authority, raising concerns about road safety, landscape impacts, infrastructure capacity, and residential amenity of nearby residents.
But the council’s planning committee was minded to approve the plans on the condition it passes final planning conditions.
Reform Councillor Dawn Bellingham said: “Affordable and housing is what we need and this looks the perfect place to build these houses.”
Zoey Hawthorne, group director of development at Karbon Homes, said: “We’ve designed a modern, high-quality development that meets the needs of the local community, with a mix of property types and sizes to provide options for residents at varying stages of life, that all meet the highest energy efficiency standard.”
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
