PLANS have been unveiled for a housing development on the site of a former school in Peterlee.

Galliford Try Partnerships have applied to Durham County Council for planning permission to build 67 homes on the site of the former former Eden Community Primary School site on the town’s Robson Avenue.

The site has been vacant since closure of the school in August 2008 with the buildings having subsequently been demolished cleared.

Areas of hardstanding in the northern part of the site are the only remnants of the former school, with the remainder of the land having been grassed over or forming part of the original school playing fields.

The site is a short walk from the town centre to the south.

The development consists of mainly two-storey dwellings, with 18 single storey bungalows.– 42 homes will be for affordable rental purposes and the remaining 25 will for rent to buy.

Durham County Councillor Audrey Laing, who represents the ward, said: “I am delighted and welcome the plans. The site has been empty for long enough.

“The only representation I have made to the planners is for more a couple more bungalows to be built, if possible.”

Andrew Rennie, development director with Galliford Try Partnerships North, said: “This proposal for 67 new homes for rent in Peterlee is one of several such projects we hope to bring forward in 2019 to help address the shortage of affordable housing in the region.

“Subject to receiving planning approval, we have an agreement to purchase the former school site from Durham County Council, in order to bring this disused, brownfield land back into use for the benefit of the community.

“We will work with County Durham Housing Group to deliver high quality, energy efficient homes that drive up the quality of housing provision in the area.

“We hope to be on site in the summer, with the first properties ready for residents in 2020.”