The North East has the highest proportion of empty homes in the UK and the highest levels of deprivation in the country.

In Horden, County Durham, one in 10 homes are empty and boarded up leaving people of the town feeling “forgotten” and left behind.

The former mining town is in the top three per cent of deprived areas in England and Wales.

Walking along the notorious numbered avenues of Horden there is house after house boarded up and some have had fake doors stapled onto wooden boards to give the impression of normality.

There are currently 350 empty homes in the town, with a total number of households at the 2021 census of 3,533.

(Image: Northern Echo)

Frank Leadbitter, chairman of the Horden Parish Council, defends the people of the area as “the salt of the Earth” but acknowledges there is a problem with empty homes.

He said: “We have a lot of houses that are boarded up or empty.

“The closing of the mines was the start of it all. People moved away to find work.

“People used to fight to get the houses on the numbered avenues when the mine was open.

“These houses have just come to the end of their life. If someone came along and redeveloped, they could make such a difference.

“I think I speak for the community of Horden when I say I think they should demolish all of them and build a school in the middle.

“Currently, they are such a waste and distract from what we have to offer here.”

Mr Leadbitter explained that the town feels “forgotten” by Durham County Council (DCC) when it looks at the regeneration projects going on in places like Seaham.

He added: “The council has done sweet nothing for Horden.

“It’s high time that they woke up and learnt where Horden is and how great it is.

“Kim McGuinness has been down a couple of times and we really hope she gets involved in helping the town.”

Michael Kelleher, Durham County Council’s head of planning and housing, said: "We remain committed to seeking to deliver or support regeneration where needed across all our communities including Horden. This includes working alongside colleagues in the new North East Combined Authority to seek additional investment across our county.

"We are also fully committed to the delivery of the Horden Masterplan. Our Cabinet agreed in January to invest £6m to purchase properties on Third Street with a view to either demolishing and rebuilding or refurbishing them, in order to improve standards.

"We are currently speaking with owner-occupiers, landlords and tenants as we seek to negotiate to purchase properties and support people to move and relocate; but would stress that this process will take time.

"We always seek to engage local people and organisations including Horden Parish Council and value the parish’s passion for its community."

Locals hope that money can be found to enact the Horden masterplan which sets out steps to regenerate the town, including demolishing the numbered avenues.

Grahame Morris, Labour MP for Easington, said: “There are two housing crises in the UK, one in London and the South East where demand vastly outstrips supply, and another in our community, and similar former coalfield communities, where there is a need for housing regeneration. 

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“I support regeneration in areas blighted by derelict and empty properties which are a magnet for crime and anti-social behaviour. Targeting these areas and preparing them for regeneration is a mammoth task.

“We need a public body, either Durham County Council or a new Development Corporation to take ownership of the issue, to deliver new housing in the areas where it is most needed and can deliver the largest regeneration gains. This includes areas such as the A,B,C streets in Easington Colliery, and the Numbered Streets in Horden.

“These are issues I am pursuing with the new government.”