Member Article

Cestria begins demolition work on £3.5m Durham housing scheme

Housing provider Cestria is starting work on a new £3.5m development at Pelton, County Durham, said to be completed in Spring 2017.

Granted approval by Durham County Council last january, demolition work has started on the site to pave the way for 37 new homes, set to include 21 two-bedroom bungalows and 16 two-bedroom semi-detached homes for rent.

Work to demolish the existing site actually began in March last year although two weeks into the demolition, the contractor originally appointed to build the scheme was placed into administration, meaning work was put on hold until a new appointment could be made.

Work on the Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall (JDDK) Ltd-designed scheme has just restarted on site this week and is being delivered by housing and community regeneration specialist Keepmoat.

To officially mark the start of the development works, Coun Jim Cordon who represents the Pelton Ward on Durham County Council, joined development executives from Cestria Community Housing and Keepmoat to cut the first sod.

Martin Warhurst, managing director of Cestria Community Housing, said, “I am pleased to see that construction work has re-commenced on site, after delays outside our control. Now we can look forward to seeing these new homes being built.

“This development becomes our fifth brand new housing scheme across the district and will help to meet the needs and demands of the area’s elderly population by replacing poor outdated vacant homes with high quality modern bungalows and homes and we hope it will lift the area once it has been built.”

Cllr. Jim Cordon commented: “We have been waiting for this development to happen for a long time and I am just pleased that we are finally there. This development will not only meet the needs of local people across the district but also our local community here in Pelton.”

Lee Francis, area director for Keepmoat in the North East said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Cestria to finally deliver this much-needed new scheme for the people of Durham. As with all of our projects, we will be looking at ways of investing in the wider area and supporting new and existing members of the community.”

The architects for ‘Vicarage and The Garth’ are Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall (JDDK) Ltd.

Nicky Watson, JDDK Director, added: “We are delighted to be working with Cestria to deliver this exciting development. The scheme will not only help to meet the needs and demands of the area’s elderly population by replacing outdated homes with high quality, fully accessible modern homes designed to create a supportive and community focused environment, but also provide contemporary family housing on the south side of the site.”