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Search the Public Notice PortalA housing estate in County Durham has been left standing empty for years – despite the homes looking complete and work beginning in 2018.
The development at Evenwood Gate, near West Auckland, began around seven years ago on the site of the former Brown Jug Inn, demolished in 2015.
By 2022, several houses were fully built, complete with windows, doors, gardens and fences.
But no one has ever moved in.
Locals say the estate has become a “ghost town”, with weeds now growing through railings and building fences still blocking the entrance from the A688.
One resident called the site “a total mystery,” adding: “It makes no sense – the houses are there, but nobody lives in them.”
Durham County Council confirmed the project has “stalled” and said they are working with consultants to resolve planning issues. A revised application is expected soon.
Michael Kelleher, Durham County Council’s head of planning and housing, said: “ We are aware that development has stalled at this site, which is privately owned.
"In light of this, we have held discussions with the developer’s appointed consultant to help them progress the scheme and resolve outstanding planning matters.
"We are expecting a revised application for the development to be submitted soon.”
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For those living nearby, the delay has left the village in limbo.
Resident Rachel Aldred said: “It’s strange, but finishing the estate might actually help. More homes could slow down traffic through the village and make it safer for families.”
For now, the completed-but-empty houses stand untouched – a housing estate that nobody has ever called home.
We have rounded up the building work over the years and how it looks now:
June 2015: The closed Brown Jug Inn still stands on the site
August 2016: The Brown Jug Inn has been demolished, and a digger is on the site
July 2017: The site has been levelled and cleared of the debris of the pub
August 2018: Building work on the site and the shell of the first few houses are up
April 2021: More houses have appeared on the site, and the first lot of houses is complete
November 2021: The houses on the right-hand side of the site remain unfinished, the houses on the left are still complete, and a building site fence appears, blocking off the site entrance from the A688
June 2023: The houses on both sides are now complete, and orange road fences appear on this site
September 2024: The houses still haven't had anyone live in them, and the gardens appear overgrown, and building materials are still in the gardens and communal areas of the development
August 2025: The houses remain complete, but the site is not finished, with residents describing the estate as a "ghost town".
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