More than 280 new homes permitted to be built on 'eyesore' derelict land in County Durham

More than 280 new homes have been permitted to be built on a derelict plot of land in County Durham that has been an "eyesore" for over a decade.

Durham County Council (DCC) has given the go-ahead for the construction of 282 new homes on the former North East Industrial Estate in Peterlee and Horden. The site has was left untouched for over 10 years until the Joint Administration that is now running the council made it a priority.

The Joint Administration is made up of a cross-party alliance of independents, Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and North East Party members. The site will now be transformed into an estate that will help to meet the significant housing needs in County Durham, and will include affordable homes.

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Councillor Terry Duffy, a member for Peterlee East, and North East Party member, said: “When it was running Durham County Council, Labour left this area in a complete mess for years. I’m delighted that the Joint Administration is now fixing the many problems that we inherited, including these eyesores.”

The site, which is overgrown and prone to environmental crimes, is opposite the main Horden Cemetery. Council officers have been working over the last year to acquire the various plots of land at the request of councillors, so that a coherent plan can be created. It is now expected that the council will market the site for developers to come forward.

Councillor James Rowlandson, a Conservative, and DCC cabinet member for housing, adds: “This is a perfect brownfield site for regeneration and will provide much needed good quality and affordable housing, fixing a blight on the landscape which Labour left for so long. Our hard work with Durham County Council officers will see not only deliver these additional homes, but also extra revenue for the council.”

Funding is already in place from Homes England towards the cost of redeveloping the brownfield site. Additional funding opportunities are also being explored to make sure the site is sustainable, as it has to be fully cleaned up before housing can be built on it.

Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes is the cabinet member in charge of neighbourhoods and explains why it’s so important that areas such as this are dealt with. He said: “County Durham Labour’s failure to regenerate so many parts of our county when they ran the council didn’t just blight these communities, it also dumped so many other costs onto the council.

"For years, we have had to visit this site to deal with anti-social behaviour and frequent fly-tipping incidents. By getting these areas cleared and improved with much needed housing, we will both generate income for the council and save money too. What particularly angered me on my visits to the site was just how awful it looks, especially opposite the main cemetery, where so many Horden and Peterlee residents go to attend their relatives’ graves."