Plans for new affordable homes in County Durham approved

The news follows a planning submission by affordable house builder Adderstone Living to Durham County Council earlier this year to develop 55 houses on a 3.78ha site at Todd Hill Farm in Moorside, between Consett and Castleside.

The landscape-led scheme will help to sustain the local economy and services, and provide a mix of two and three bedroomed properties, including 18 bungalows, with a range of tenures to suit local needs.

The design and layout of the scheme is in keeping with local character, and will create a strong sense of place. On-site open space, the upgrade of a public right of way and the introduction of a pedestrian crossing near the site entrance will also ensure connectivity to the wider area.

The proposals also include ecological enhancement and an offsite contribution to Biodiversity Net Gain.

Developers Adderstone Living are keen to ensure that the development does not lead to the loss of open land that has recreational, ecological or heritage value. An extensive landscape buffer has been incorporated along the southern boundary to provide open space and help screen the development, especially from the Grade II Hownsgill Viaduct.

The scheme, being built for social housing provider Castles & Coasts Housing Association, comes as Adderstone Living continues to see strong demand for its ‘land-led’ solutions. This involves the sourcing of suitable land, scheme design and securing of planning permission before delivering quality new homes.

Stephen McCoy, managing director of Adderstone Living, said: “We’re committed to tackling the housing crisis by working with social housing providers to deliver high quality affordable new homes across North East England and Yorkshire.

“This is great news for people keen to get on the housing ladder. We look forward to bringing this much needed scheme, with its mix of property types and sizes to provide options for residents at varying stages of life, to fruition.

“Indeed, the delivery of social housing has never been more important than at present with commercial pressures on the sector to deliver high quality, added value schemes in places where people want to live and build communities.”

It is anticipated that onsite work will commence in 2025.