Lib Dem county councillors Mark Wilkes and Rev Crooks have applauded passing of planning permission for 21 new council houses in Bearpark. The homes, part of government funding for the first council houses to be built for many years are to be built on land which was formerly part of the Bearpark Colliery site. They will be built by DVRC and then transferred to Durham City Homes.
Councillor Wilkes commented :
“We have held long negotiations with council officers for many months now to ensure that as many of the proposed new homes as possible are built in Bearpark. Originally we were only going to get eight houses in the division and even that wasn’t secure. I am delighted at the outcome. These will be high quality, efficient, two and three bedroom family homes with gardens – just what we need.”
“We have long waiting lists in Bearpark for housing and we are pushing for a local lettings policy to ensure Bearpark residents are offered these homes.”
Fellow Councillor Rev Crooks added “ Mark and I have put a lot of work in to ensure that these homes are built in Bearpark. Bearpark residents have been crying out for homes and I am always being contacted about waiting lists.
“We are really impressed that negotiations with the council have resulted in a new playing field being added as a condition to the planning application. We are also working on a play area for toddlers. After decades of neglect, I am proud that my village is finally being improved.“
The council house building program was kick started late last year by the government with County Durham receiving funding for 28 council houses and is the first time that true council housing will be built in the County for many decades. The scheme will provide 13 two bed and 8 three bedroom homes which will be built to the high level 4 efficiency criteria. This will include solar panels, cutting fuel bills for residents.
Mr Wilkes went on to say “ I have been really impressed by the hard work and dedication of all officers in the housing and planning departments at County Hall who have worked flat out to get this new housing arranged so quickly. The additional improvements to the site with extra trees and landscaping and protection for neighbouring homes all adds up to a great development.
“I only wish it hadn’t taken 13 years and a potential general election defeat for Labour to realise that this is such an important priority. The changes to regulations so that councils can build new council homes is a policy which the Lib Dems have been pushing for many years now.
“It is clear to me that successive Labour and Conservative governments have failed to recognise the importance of providing affordable council and social homes.”
Work will start immediately in two phases with the first phase of 11 homes expected to be complete by the end of the summer.
Councillor Crooks added “In the last two years we have secured the building of council and social housing in Framwellgate Moor, Witton Gilbert and Bearpark, proving that hard work really does pay off. We will continue to work hard to bring down housing waiting lists in our area.“