First homes complete on Darlington council housing scheme

The scheme of 150 affordable new-builds off Neasham Road is hope to replenish the council’s depleted social housing stock. The majority of the properties will be available for rent, while some while be offered as rent-to-buy.

The first 21 homes have now been completed and will be handed over to the council by builders later this month. The first tenants will be able to move in from the beginning of September.

Once complete the estate will have 64 two-bedroom apartments, 24 two-bedroom houses, 43 three-bedroom houses and 19 four-bedroom houses.

Councillor Matthew Roche, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and housing, said: “More than 400 homes have already been designed and built in-house by our housing and building services teams as part of our commitment to increase the number of affordable homes across the borough.

“This is a key part of our Council Plan, which was recently agreed, and these developments will help us reduce the number of people on our housing waiting list.

“I was delighted to be invited to tour the new properties in this first phase at Neasham Road, and have again been impressed with the work our housing and building services teams have done to provide good quality homes that can be used for generations to come.”

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The new Government has called for an increase in the amount of affordable housing. Earlier this week the Echo told how hundreds of children in the North East were living in temporary accommodation, for reasons including lack of permanent social housing.

The scheme has been part-funded with government money alongside Homes by Esh, which is building a 155-home estate nearby, and a new play area set to be ready for next summer.

Streets on the estate have been named after sportsmen with local links including Arthur Wharton, Ronald Brebner, Charles Craven and George Butterfield.