County Durham set for a housing boost after planning permission secured

Planning and design consultancy Barton Willmore, now Stantec, has played its part in helping to boost housing choice for people in County Durham.

The consultancy provided planning advice to developer Vistry Partnerships North East on a scheme which is set to deliver over 300 homes in the Bishop Auckland area. Planning permission has been secured for the £60.4m housing development and construction has started on the site near to Auckland Park.

A total of 331 homes will be built by Vistry Partnerships North East and County Durham-based housing association believe housing. The development follows on from the creation of the 99-home mixed-tenure development called Bishops Park, which was completed last year.

Michelle Robinson, Planning Associate at Barton Willmore, now Stantec, said, “we’re really pleased to have helped Vistry Partnerships North East to secure planning permission for what will be a major housing development in the Bishop Auckland area.

“This is a complex site and it has been a long-standing aspiration of Vistry Partnerships to create this development. The mix of houses being planned for the site will help to widen housing choice and to provide a welcome increase in the housing stock in the area.

The site first received outline planning permission in 2014 for up to 500 dwellings and a community / commercial development. A range of 2, 3 and 4 bed properties are being planned for the site, together with areas of open space and drainage features.

Barton Willmore, now Stantec, has previously advised Vistry Partnerships North East on a series of other developments in the region including Penshaw House, Sunderland; St George’s Hospital, Morpeth and North Farm, Blyth.

In addition to the homes, Vistry Partnerhips is part-funding infrastructure improvements to Coundon Gate Roundabout in Bishop Auckland, which will help with the town’s growth plans.

Believe housing has bought 100 of the properties that are being built, which it will make available for affordable rent and Rent to Buy. Believe has an option to buy a further 100 homes; the remaining homes will be sold privately under Vistry’s Linden Homes brand.

The first residents are expected to move into the new phase two properties in early 2023, with completion of the build programme expected in October 2026. The development will also create 13 jobs and provide 35 work placements for local people.