Residents move into housing association's £600k affordable homes scheme in Ushaw Moor

The first residents have now moved into the first of over 100 affordable homes being built by a housing association across the North East over the next five years.

The first scheme completed by Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association (DAMHA) has resulted in five new properties at Eshwood View, Ushaw Moor.

The Association has invested £600k building five two-bedroom bungalows.

DAMHA opened 20 homes at Eshwood View in 2006 and after further land became available, it has been able to add the new homes next to its existing properties.

Among the first residents to move in is 75-year-old Terry Ramm. Moving into the bungalow has enabled him to sell the large family home owned he shared with his wife Veda, who sadly passed away on 31st December 2017.

He said: “Veda and I had been on the waiting list because she had Alzheimer’s and I have arthritis which was making getting up and downstairs more difficult. Veda would have loved the new house; it’s only five minutes’ walk from our old home, it’s in a lovely quiet area and with everything on one level, it’s much easier to manage.”

Paul Mullis, Chief Executive of DAMHA, commented: “We are glad Mr Ramm and the other residents are settling into their homes at Eshwood View. We were delighted to have been able to secure more land to build the homes next to an existing scheme, bringing the total number of homes on the development to 25.”

DAMHA is also working on a 19-home scheme in Houghton-le-Spring. This will be followed by a 13-home scheme in Philadelphia. Both schemes will complete in 2019.

A further 75 new homes will then be built before 2022. This represents a total investment of £12m, which includes a grant of £1.9m from Homes England, the Government body that funds new homes in England.

Mr Mullis added: “Our current development programme, which is one of the biggest in our 120-year history, is aimed at addressing the shortage of new, two-bedroom bungalows for rent in the region.

“Along with people like Mr Ramm, we will be able to provide much-needed accommodation for many others in the years to come.”

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