Hopes to halt demolition of Horden homes as residents launch legal bid

One hundred and twelve homes on Third and Fifth Street in Horden, County Durham will be reduced to rubble as part of a £10.7m regeneration project to build 105 new homes. The plans were approved last month despite fierce protests from residents.

And now, as they attempt to save their homes, neighbours have banded together to launch a legal battle against the council and are fundraising to pay fees for lawyers.

Moira Bellingham, 66, who previously said demolition teams would have to kill her to knock down her house, said: "We are not going to go down without a fight.

Moira and Ray Bellingham who live on Third Street, (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

"This battle is to save our homes. If there is any chance, we have to try.

"We're going to take it as far as we can take it, if there is the slightest chance that we can keep our homes."

It is understood that Durham County Council will be presented with the legal challenge by the end of the week.

Residents discussing their legal bid. (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

The Horden masterplan scheme was first announced in 2019, has been branded a "catalyst for change", spurred on by one in ten homes standing empty and boarded up, and the area is plagued by anti-social behaviour.

As previously reported, plans involve building on green space on the already-demolished Fourth Street site, with two-, three-, and four-bed homes and two-bed bungalows to be built as social housing.

Residents who will lose their homes will be put to the top of the list for new social housing.

But homeowners like Moira - who has lived on Third Street for 60 years alongside brother Ray, 68 - want to stay put and hope to overturn the plans in their entirety.

Residents in Horden's numbered Third and Fifth Streets opposed to the planned demolition. (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

She added: "Since the decision last month, it has been difficult. It's like our bubble was burst, we feel deflated and it's very emotionally and physically draining.

"If we were to win, it would be a massive weight taken off our shoulders. It would be a relief - it feels like we are carrying weight around with us every day.

"We keep praying every day to get the outcome we want. We just have to go through the process one step a time.

"We will either win or lose. Hopefully we win. We are feeling hopeful, but not counting our chickens before they hatch."

The group of neighbours has enlisted the help of Killian Garvey of the Kings Chambers to fight their case.

Stephen Reed, Durham County Council’s planning manager, said: “We are not currently aware of any legal challenge but will review and carefully consider any that is submitted, in line with the appropriate processes.”

At a planning meeting last month, Fifth Street resident David Ramos, 51, said he moved from London to Horden eight years ago because he "couldn't afford" to live in the capital and ended up buying his home at auction.

He said: "This is not just a planning application, it's my life.

"I never thought I'd have to move again, but here we are. We are asking you to refuse the plans or defer them before 110 perfectly good homes are lost forever.

"This is a wonderful community that would be torn apart by what is proposed here. I'm living with constant uncertainty. I don't know what's going to happen."