The North East Combined Authority has announced a £22 million investment to build 1,122 new homes across the region, including a specific project in Durham, County Durham. This funding will help clear and prepare old building sites that have been left empty for a long time.
In County Durham, £645,632 will be spent to turn the site of the former Easington School into 25 new social rent homes. These high-quality houses will be designed to use less energy and are part of a strategy by Durham County Council to increase the number of homes owned by the council.
Across the North East, more than a third of the new properties are set aside for social rent or affordable purchase. This means 398 of the homes will be available at a lower cost to help local families get on the housing ladder or find a place to rent.
The money will be used to fix up derelict land in several towns, including Ashington and Blyth, as well as sites in Sunderland. These areas were previously considered too difficult or expensive for private builders to work on without extra help.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness stated the goal is to provide more high-quality homes for residents while supporting local building jobs. All projects involved in this plan must have their legal contracts signed by a deadline in March 2026 to ensure the work begins quickly.
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