Council officials have stepped up plans to acquire hundreds of homes as part of a major County Durham regeneration scheme.

East Durham village Horden is at the centre of a masterplan to address some of the long-standing housing issues in the area. 

The aim is to transform the village’s Numbered Streets by addressing the number of empty homes and private landlords and supporting those with housing needs. 

Several new houses and bungalows are due to be built with others refurbished, as well as improved walking and cycling routes to Peterlee town centre, Horden train station and the Durham Heritage Coast.

Third Street in Horden, County DurhamThird Street in Horden, County Durham (Image: The Northern Echo)

A Durham County Council report says the masterplan’s first phase involves acquiring 56 properties on Third Street.

It reads: “Housing regeneration officers are progressing acquisitions while working closely with residents to identify their housing needs. The council currently has valuation instructions for 36 properties.”

The council successfully purchased and decommissioned its first property in Third Street in August 2024, with nine more planned to be completed by March 2025. In addition, three tenants and two owner-occupiers have been supported to relocate to new properties, with detailed support being provided to others in preparation for moving to their new homes.

In September, North East mayor Kim McGuinness approved a £4.5 million investment to support the regeneration of the former mining village. The funding will help create over 100 two and three-bedroom family homes, including affordable council housing for local families. 

The money is in addition to the £6.2m that Durham County Council has already invested and will be used to support the regeneration of homes in ‘The Numbered Streets’ area. The project will also expand to include Fourth and Fifth Street in Horden. 

East Durham village Horden is at the centre of a masterplan to address some of the long-standing housing issues in the area. East Durham village Horden is at the centre of a masterplan to address some of the long-standing housing issues in the area. (Image: Durham County Council)

The project’s expansion means the council seeks to acquire a further 58 properties within Fifth Street. The council said all owners and occupiers have been contacted and work is ongoing to support owner-occupiers, landlords and tenants through the process.

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A hybrid planning application for demolition and reprovision within Third, Fourth and Fifth Streets will be submitted within the first quarter of 2025, with reprovision works due in the first quarter of 2026. 

After the latest funding announcement, councillor Amanda Hopgood, leader of Durham County Council, said: “We have been working on the acquisition of properties on Third Street which will pave the way for new council housing or redevelopment. This added funding means we can extend the scope of our work into Fifth Street, and potentially deliver more than 100 properties across Third, Fourth and Fifth Street, including some council housing that will be truly affordable.

“It remains our ambition that what we are doing will act as a catalyst for more regeneration activity within Horden and help us to attract outside investment in the community.”