New housing development at disused Durham hospital

Work has started on a £40 million housing development on the site of the former Shotley Bridge near Consett in County Durham.  It will create 240 new homes over the next seven years and bring a major jobs boost to the area.

The Homes and Communities Agency, as the site owner, selected Cumbria-based Story Homes as the developer for the 31-acre site which is next to the new Shotley Bridge Hospital.  They will deliver a wide range of homes, from two-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom houses. The development also includes 60 affordable homes, half of which will be to rent and the other 30 being discounted in perpetuity to help local people own their first home.

Story Homes calculates that around 75 new jobs will be created, in addition to fresh work for suppliers and service providers in and around County Durham via the supply chain.

Chief executive Fred Story said:

"We have earned a proud reputation for building top-quality homes offering real value-for-money over the last quarter of a century throughout Cumbria, Lancashire and South West Scotland.

 The 2, 3, 4 and 5-bedroom properties on this scheme will reflect the local area, incorporating high quality brick and buff stone and using  mid-grey slate roof covering which is typical of  the town.

Mr Story added: "The construction sector has been going through an incredibly tough period and nowhere more so than house building. But as a company we have earned a proud reputation for building top-quality homes offering real value-for-money throughout Cumbria, Lancashire and South West Scotland. We are demonstrating that if you maintain your standards and refuse to compromise on the service you provide to your customers, you can still succeed."

 The Shotley Bridge development will consist of 12 two-bed apartments, 66 two-bed houses. 59 three-bed houses, 94 four-bed houses and nine five-bed houses.

His comments were backed by Gill Hay, area manager at the Homes and Communities Agency,  who is  handling the disposal and development of the site said:

“It is great to see this scheme start on site to provide much needed housing for Derwentside.

"The high levels of affordable homes will mean that local people will be able to live in the house they want and still stay in the community.  I look forward to coming back to see the first home completed in the next few months."

Cllr Clive Robson, Durham County Council's cabinet member for housing, welcomed Story Homes' development at Shotley Bridge. Cllr Robson said:

"This is an exciting time for Consett and the surrounding area, with a number of key developments taking off and I am delighted to see this one moving forward. I am particularly pleased to welcome the additional number of affordable homes which will make a significant contribution towards the council’s overall target for the county.”

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