EASINGTON MP Grahame Morris has called on the Chancellor to transform local housing as part of the Government’s Covid-19 recovery plan.

In Treasury Questions, Mr Morris called on Rishi Sunak to invest in housing regeneration in Horden, Easington and Blackhall, highlighting the potential for housing to create jobs, training opportunities, sustain domestic supply chains and boost the economy.

Mr Morris is leading a campaign for Government investment in housing regeneration in east Durham to tackle the issues of absentee landlords, poor-quality housing and problem tenants.

He said he believes the Horden Housing Plan, developed by Durham County Council, could be replicated in other areas and provides a blueprint for government to create jobs as part of the Covid-19 Recovery Plan.

Speaking following the Chancellor's Budget Mr Morris said: "The government are looking for schemes to create employment and growth. Construction and housing supply chains are predominantly domestic-based, so for every pound spent, there is a multiplier effect throughout the economy."

He added: "There is talk of the American style pre-war New Deal. There's a lot of rhetoric."If the funding was made available we could tackle the problem of absentee landlords which has allowed sections of our community to go to rack and ruin.

"At the behest of the then Homes and Communities Agency, Durham County Council developed a Horden Housing Plan, which includes an option for full-scale housing regeneration.

"But it needs the commitment from Government. We could employ young people and we could address issues about green energy.

"I am concerned the money will be channelled to prestigious projects, particularly to people in the south and the big cities."

Mr Morris said the nation owes areas like Easington a debt of honour, for the miners who "toiled to dig out the coal that fuelled the fires and engines of industry that made Britain great" during the industrial revolution.

He added: "Now those areas are suffering the legacy of pit closures, including poor housing and we need the Government to honour that debt to provide the funding to turn it all around."