Local MP Sam Rushworth has commended the development of 50 new affordable homes in his Bishop Auckland constituency, hailing the project's importance in both meeting local demand and helping grow the local area.
Sam joined colleagues from Karbon Homes and its construction partner for the development, Oaktree Living, to mark the breaking of ground for the £10m project on the Redworth Road site, south of Shildon town centre.
The development, designed by North East based architects Ergo Projects, will consist of a mix of two-bed bungalows and two, three and four-bed family homes.
Sam Rushworth MP said: "This is a really important project from Karbon, helping more local people access affordable housing in the area whilst supporting the growth of Shildon. One of the biggest issues constituents raise with me is that they're on the housing list but can't seem to get any closer to securing a social home. There's around 20 people on the list for each home that becomes available, so we know we have a shortage."
"It's particularly great to see Karbon developing bungalows on the site. I speak to lots of pensioners who are desperate to access a bungalow, so it's great to see more of them being built."
The project comes as the Government continues to push for the delivery of new homes to meet the chronic housing shortage.
Thirty-five of the homes will be available for social rent and will be allocated through Durham County Council’s choice-based lettings system. These homes will contribute towards the government’s target to deliver 180,000 social rent homes by 2035.
The remaining 15 homes will be available for affordable home ownership scheme Rent to Buy, where rents are set at 20% less than local market rent, providing residents with an opportunity to save towards a deposit.
Sarah Robson, Executive Director of Development and Asset Management at Karbon Homes, said:
“These new homes at Shildon are a real success story in our ongoing programme to bring much needed affordable homes to communities across the North East and Yorkshire where demand is high.
"Providing a mix of house types, from bungalows through to family homes, means we're meeting the needs of the local community by creating options for residents at varying stages of life. It's been great to have Sam join us in celebrating the homes getting underway and brilliant to have his support for what we're trying to achieve for this area of County Durham."
The delivery of the scheme is supported with funding through Karbon’s Strategic Partnership with the government’s housing and regeneration agency, Homes England, under its Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) 2021-26.
The partnership has provided Karbon with £184 million in funding to deliver 2,327 new affordable homes across the North East and Yorkshire by 2028.
This week Karbon has once again been granted Strategic Partnership status under Homes England’s next Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026-36. Through a consortium with believe housing, Bernicia, Durham Aged Miners Homes Association and Livin, the partners have £350m in funding to deliver 2,533 homes across the region.
Local MP Sam Rushworth has commended the development of 50 new affordable homes in his Bishop Auckland constituency, hailing the project's importance in both meeting local demand and helping grow the local area.
Sam joined colleagues from Karbon Homes and its construction partner for the development, Oaktree Living, to mark the breaking of ground for the £10m project on the Redworth Road site, south of Shildon town centre.
The development, designed by North East based architects Ergo Projects, will consist of a mix of two-bed bungalows and two, three and four-bed family homes.
Sam Rushworth MP said: "This is a really important project from Karbon, helping more local people access affordable housing in the area whilst supporting the growth of Shildon. One of the biggest issues constituents raise with me is that they're on the housing list but can't seem to get any closer to securing a social home. There's around 20 people on the list for each home that becomes available, so we know we have a shortage."
"It's particularly great to see Karbon developing bungalows on the site. I speak to lots of pensioners who are desperate to access a bungalow, so it's great to see more of them being built."
The project comes as the Government continues to push for the delivery of new homes to meet the chronic housing shortage.
Thirty-five of the homes will be available for social rent and will be allocated through Durham County Council’s choice-based lettings system. These homes will contribute towards the government’s target to deliver 180,000 social rent homes by 2035.
The remaining 15 homes will be available for affordable home ownership scheme Rent to Buy, where rents are set at 20% less than local market rent, providing residents with an opportunity to save towards a deposit.
Sarah Robson, Executive Director of Development and Asset Management at Karbon Homes, said:
“These new homes at Shildon are a real success story in our ongoing programme to bring much needed affordable homes to communities across the North East and Yorkshire where demand is high.
"Providing a mix of house types, from bungalows through to family homes, means we're meeting the needs of the local community by creating options for residents at varying stages of life. It's been great to have Sam join us in celebrating the homes getting underway and brilliant to have his support for what we're trying to achieve for this area of County Durham."
The delivery of the scheme is supported with funding through Karbon’s Strategic Partnership with the government’s housing and regeneration agency, Homes England, under its Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) 2021-26.
The partnership has provided Karbon with £184 million in funding to deliver 2,327 new affordable homes across the North East and Yorkshire by 2028.
This week Karbon has once again been granted Strategic Partnership status under Homes England’s next Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026-36. Through a consortium with believe housing, Bernicia, Durham Aged Miners Homes Association and Livin, the partners have £350m in funding to deliver 2,533 homes across the region.
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