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Affordable home scheme is under way in Durham

A £1.7m scheme to create 17 affordable homes for older people in a County Durham village is now under way.

Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association (DAMHA) is providing the properties in Ascot Way, St Helen Auckland, near Bishop Auckland.

The two-bedroom bungalows, which are being built on behalf of DAMHA by North East social housing building specialists Esh Property Services, will have solar panels that will help heat the homes.

When they are completed in autumn 2013 they will be let to people in housing need who are over pensionable age.

Brian Stobbs, DAMHA’s head of asset management, said: “This is one of the larger schemes we have undertaken in recent years and we are looking forward to being able to create much-needed affordable rented homes in St Helen Auckland.

“Our two-bedroom bungalows are very spacious and built to a high specification. With extra insulation and solar panels they are also designed to be very energy efficient.

“We completed a similar scheme close to the new development in 2011 and there was lots of demand for these properties, so we are expecting it will be the same this time.”

David Halfacre, chairman of Esh Property Services, said: “We are delighted to once again be working in partnership with Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association to build high quality homes that are bespoke to the Association and which will complement the wider mixed tenure development we are delivering in this part of the county.”

Cllr Eddie Tomlinson, Cabinet member for housing and rural issues, added: “Durham County Council is committed to ensuring more affordable housing is available for older people and we’re delighted that DAMHA are building such good quality bungalows in line with our strategic aims.”

People who would like to be considered for one of the properties can either contact DAMHA on 0191 3881111 or register their interest via Durham Key Options – www.durhamkeyoptions.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .