Darlington Council approves new homes for Eldon Street

Darlington: The council just gave the thumbs up for a new housing project on Eldon Street. They’re planning to replace an old vacant building with 12 affordable homes. This decision was made on January 15.

So, what’s in the plan? There will be four three-bedroom houses and eight two-bedroom ones. North Star Housing Group will manage these homes, making sure they’re affordable for rent.

To keep things budget-friendly, they’re getting some funding from Homes England. This will help ensure that the homes stay affordable for a long time.

The site has been empty since August 2022 and is about 1,297 square meters, right in a neighborhood with terraced houses.

With this new development, Darlington will see a net gain of 12 residential units, which is great news for the community.

Each home will come with electric vehicle charging points and secure bike storage, which is pretty cool. The construction has to kick off within three years, following the approved plans.

The design will reflect the local vibe of Eldon Street, featuring brickwork, cladding, and modern windows. Plus, there will be front gardens and private backyards for each home.

Parking won’t be an issue either, as there will be 12 parking bays at the back, along with some on-street options.

Accessibility is also a priority. One of the homes will be wheelchair-friendly, while the others will meet adaptable standards.

This project fits right into the Darlington Local Plan, helping to meet the demand for affordable housing in the area.

Interestingly, the old building being torn down was considered a non-designated heritage asset, but it wasn’t really significant architecturally.

There were no major objections from the public, which is a good sign. The council felt that redeveloping the site was necessary since it had been vacant for a while.