A DRIVE to build 500 council homes in County Durham costing about £70m is moving ahead with plans to expand into rural areas.

Durham County Council aims to build 500 “high quality energy efficient homes” over the next five years.

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Possible sites for the homes are being looked into by the council in areas such as Murton, Bishop Auckland, Thornley, Spennymoor, Langley Park, Consett, Leadgate, Ferryhill and Seaham.

They aim to build bungalows for older residents in about 65 per cent of the homes, and a target of 75 affordable homes in rural areas.

Councillor James Rowlandson, cabinet member for investment, resources and assets, said less than half the number of homes needed were delivered in 2014 to 2019.

He told a cabinet meeting: “That is 2,224 families living in accommodation that is unsuitable. Family members struggling with stairs every day, struggling with the cost of heating homes that are too large, struggling to maintain their homes.

“This is about building new homes to radically change quality of life to over 500 homes and I’m delighted that the joint administration is continuing to deliver the programme.

“I’m proposing the expansion of the programme to include all of the county to include rural areas.

“Offices are currently identifying housing development sites and I hope to announce a more detailed programme of house building in rural areas in the coming months.

“In some cases a handful of new bungalows in a village will make an enormous difference to the local community.”

For other sites already earmarked, he said the council would move to applying for planning permission and construction in the new year.

More council-owned sites had been identified in the next phase of the project, he added.

“And I will be asking cabinet to approve the list so we can get to work on delivering the full 500 homes”.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “Having a warm, secure and affordable home to live in is fundamental to the quality of life you can have.

“That is why I’m fully supportive of the council house building programme proposed.

“Over the last few months we’ve seen first hand the challenges that people face without a roof over their heads and building over 500 new homes to help those in need is a pillar of what the new joint administration is seeking to achieve.

“The extension of the programme to the rural areas of the county is to be welcomed.”

Amy Harhoff, corporate director for regeneration, economy and growth, said: “Cabinet has previously agreed to deliver 500 new council homes between now and 2026 to help meet the shortfall in new affordable homes needed across the county.”

She said work was progressing well and schemes would be assessed to decide whether they should go to planning applications.

As well as £12.5m grant funding, the council will have £626,000 in government funding to develop plans for two sites - Chaytor Road, Bridgehill and Greenwood Avenue, Burnhope.

Ms Harhoff added: “A total of 17 sites have (been) identified.

“Officers will further analyse the suitability of each site.”

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