PLANS have been unveiled for the regeneration of an industrial estate with the construction of a major housing development on the outskirts of an east Durham town

Durham County Council’s Regeneration and Economic Development Service has submitted application through planning consultant Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners, for the construction of 390 new homes on the North East Industrial Estate, near Peterlee.

The proposals include plans to clear redundant and outdated factory buildings, to help affected businesses to relocate and to redevelop nearly 20 hectares of land with new housing.

A council spokesman said: “Together with the economic development company for County Durham, Business Durham, the council is working with landowners and assisting remaining businesses on the estate by helping to find alternative property in the local area and supporting their relocation needs.

“A public consultation event at the end of March saw a high level of support for the proposals which

are in accordance with the County Durham Local Plan and which will help to meet the requirement for 1,830 new homes in the area by 2030.

“The estate first developed in the 1970’s, has declined significantly as both infrastructure and factories have reached the end of their economic lives.”

Many of the estate’s larger employers have already relocated. Walkers Snack Foods and Kookaburra Foods will be not be part of proposals.

The plans will include comprise a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes, landscaping and public open space, as well as a new road which will integrate the new scheme with neighbouring residential areas and routes to the town centre.

The £30m scheme is expected to create more than 100 jobs in construction and supply chain.

Neil Foster, cabinet member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “At the start of the year, the council’s cabinet resolved to take a lead in finding a viable solution for an area of Peterlee which, as a priority, needs concerted effort to overcome complex issues in order to secure its regeneration.

“The site has significant capacity to assist in meeting the need for new homes and the submission of these exciting proposals is one of a number of key steps we are taking with landowners to help bring this brownfield site forward as a major development opportunity.”

The planning application is due to be considered in the summer.