Plans To Invest And Transform Homes and communities to go before councillors

Plans to deliver housing improvements to those communities most in need in County Durham and a proposal to purchase bungalows to be used for social rent will go before councillors this month.

Durham County Council’s Cabinet will hear proposals to bring in Targeted Delivery Plans (TDPs), which focus on improving the housing stock and wider housing environment for those communities whose council housing stock is most in need across the county.

At the same meeting, Cabinet will also be asked to approve plans to buy six bungalows in Gilesgate, Durham City, from Chapter Homes to be used for council housing.

The proposals are part of the council’s £70million five-year plan to create 500 homes for rent in County Durham.

The TDPs also support the delivery of housing priorities in the county, including delivering homes to meet the needs of older people.

The following areas of the county will be subject of TDPs should the proposals get the go-ahead:

• New Kyo
• Coundon Grange
• Blackhall Colliery South
• Thickley
• Deneside East
• Stanley Hall West.

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The implementation of the TDPs will tie in with the council’s Towns and Villages strategy, which aims to enhance the vibrancy of communities across the county by investing in projects that deliver the best possible outcomes for residents and businesses.

The TDPs provide certainty for communities and for partners as to the interventions to be undertaken in their area. The plans will be taken to the relevant Area Action Partnership meeting for discussion. Consultation will be undertaken, as appropriate, at project delivery

stage when actions in the TDP are implemented.

Cllr Kevin Shaw, Durham County Council Cabinet member for strategic housing and assets, said: “Introducing Target Delivery Plans will help to co-ordinate our plans to revitalise those communities most in need in County Durham.

“Our £70m investment towards a five-year programme to create 500 new council houses will be concentrating on meeting the outstanding needs of the elderly. It will also support the local supply chain as well as create new jobs and opportunities for training in the area.

“Purchasing the bungalows in Gilesgate will also help to meet demand as we have identified a gap in the number of affordable homes for rent in Durham City.

“It is vital that we provide good, quality homes in County Durham to people of all ages. They are an important part of our communities and will be for years to come.”

Cabinet is set to meet virtually at 9.30am on Wednesday 17 March.

Members of the public can view the meeting at www.youtube.com/user/DurhamCouncil