First phase of council’s biggest new-build project complete

Tenants are set to move into their new homes following the completion of the first phase of our biggest new-build project in decades.

Increasing the number of affordable homes is a key part of the Council Plan and the latest scheme will see the creation of 150 much-needed quality, social housing homes for rent just off Neasham Road. Some properties in later phases will also be offered as rent-to-buy, providing a first step to affordable home ownership for residents.

The first phase, with 21 properties, has now been completed and a handover to the council’s housing services team will take place later this month. Provisional offers have already been made to tenants who are expected to move in early next month.

Councillor Matthew Roche, 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.”

Once complete, the Neasham Road scheme will include 64 two-bedroom apartments, 24 two-bedroom houses, 43 three-bedroom houses and 19 four-bedroom houses. The development is supported by government funding through Homes England and is part of a joint venture with Homes by Esh, which is also constructing 155 properties for sale in its Elder Brook Park scheme nearby.

Work on later phases will continue this year and on into 2025, with addresses named after sportsmen with links to Darlington, including Arthur Wharton, Ronald Brebner, Charles Craven and George Butterfield.

Local residents and the new tenants will also be invited to take part in a consultation on a new play area that is to be included in the development, with work set to start in spring 2025 for completion by the summer holidays.

Anyone interested who have not been successful in the first phase, should keep checking the council’s website and social media for when further phases are released. All applications should be made through the Darlington Homesearch system and will be allocated according to criteria within the Local Lettings Policy.

For more details and to access Darlington Homesearch visit www.darlington.gov.uk/housing click on ‘Find a home or garage’ then ‘Applying for a council home’ and you can view the Local Lettings Policy by clicking on ‘New council housing’.

Photo caption (L-R): Rachele Robertson, housing management officer; Richard Dodgson, construction manager; Becci Gardner-Queen, housing team leader; Anthony Sandys, assistant director housing and revenue, Cllr Matthew Roche, cabinet member for health and housing; Cllr Mary Layton, chair of health and housing scrutiny committee; Cllr Steve Harker, leader of the council, Claire Gardner-Queen, head of housing.