Work begins on 50-home Shildon scheme

A £10 million affordable housing development has broken ground in County Durham, bringing 50 new homes to Shildon.

Bishop Auckland MP Sam Rushworth joined representatives from housing association Karbon Homes and construction partner Oaktree Living to mark the start of work at the Redworth Road site, south of the town centre.

Designed by North East-based Ergo Projects, the development will feature two-bedroom bungalows alongside two, three and four-bedroom family homes.

Of the 50 properties, 35 will be available for social rent and allocated through Durham County Council’s choice-based lettings system.

The remaining 15 will be offered through Rent to Buy, with rents set 20 per cent below local market rates to help residents save towards a deposit.

Mr Rushworth said: “This is a really important project from Karbon, helping more local people access affordable housing in the area whilst supporting the growth of Shildon. 

“One of the biggest issues constituents raise with me is that they’re on the housing list but can’t seem to get any closer to securing a social home. 

“There’s around 20 people on the list for each home that becomes available, so we know we have a shortage.

“It’s particularly great to see Karbon developing bungalows on the site. 

“I speak to lots of pensioners who are desperate to access a bungalow, so it’s great to see more of them being built.”

The scheme is being supported through Karbon’s Strategic Partnership with Homes England under the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26.

That partnership provided £184 million towards Karbon’s delivery of 2327 affordable homes across the North East and Yorkshire by 2028.

Sarah Robson, executive director of development and asset management at Karbon Homes, added: “These new homes at Shildon are a real success story in our ongoing programme to bring much needed affordable homes to communities across the North East and Yorkshire where demand is high. 

“Providing a mix of house types, from bungalows through to family homes, means we’re meeting the needs of the local community by creating options for residents at varying stages of life. 

“It’s been great to have Sam join us in celebrating the homes getting underway and brilliant to have his support for what we're trying to achieve for this area of County Durham.”

The housing association has also secured Strategic Partnership status under Homes England’s new Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026-36.

Working in a consortium with believe housing, Bernicia, Durham Aged Miners Homes Association and Livin, the partners have been awarded £350 million to deliver a further 2533 homes across the region.

The Shildon development comes amid wider efforts to increase housing supply, including the Government’s target to deliver 180,000 social rent homes by 2035.

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