Construction is now underway to create a new community of energy-efficient homes in Durham.
Old Durham Gate, from Barratt Homes, is an exciting new collection of two, three, four and five bedroom homes ideally located within walking distance to Durham city centre. Every home will be designed to be up to 63% more energy-efficient, saving customers up to £2,200 each year on bills. The majority of homes (66%) will be accessible and adaptable housing, which means the hallways are wider for wheelchairs, the WC can be converted into a wet room, and the living space is bigger.
Less than two miles from the historic city, homes at Old Durham Gate will offer beautiful walks along the River Wear, surrounded by scenic views. The new homes have been crafted with flexible living in mind, to encourage prospective customers, such as first time buyers and growing families, to create their dream home. The development will also benefit from a fantastic range of local amenities such as shops, cafes, restaurants and OFSTED-rated ‘Good’ schools.
The land near Bent House Lane was purchased last year by Barratt Homes in conjunction with Miller Homes, and as part of its agreement with Durham County Council, Barratt Homes will be contributing over £1.2 million, which is 50% of the total with Miller contributing the remaining 50%, to the improvement of healthcare and education institutions, outdoor recreation and community spaces for residents in the area. A contribution of £642,175 will be paid to upgrade secondary school capacity and £371,449 for primary school capacity. An additional £109,345 will be made by the 5-star housebuilder for open spaces and recreation facilities, as well as £12,394 for the maintenance and upgrading of footpaths. Healthcare facilities will be improved with a £113,505 contribution and the nearby Laburnum Avenue Community Centre will see £23,500 for improvements.
As the UK’s largest housebuilder, Barratt Homes is dedicated to supporting the communities in which it builds, investing over £3.1million into physical infrastructure to fund environmental and highway improvements, affordable homes and community facilities in 2022 and £3.3 million into community infrastructure to support local schools and transport links. The housebuilder also made over £29,000 of charitable donations last year, to support those in need across the North East region.
Last year also saw the housebuilder reinforce its commitment to creating homes for nature as well as people. The business created 12.7 hectares of greenspace across the region, equivalent to 18 football pitches, to help support wildlife on and around its developments. Its commitment to environmental sustainability also saw Barratt Developments reduce its CO2 emissions by 45% against its 2018 benchmark and reduce its construction waste by 45%.
Neil Milburn, Land and Development Director at Barratt Developments North East commented: “We are delighted to begin developing our new collection of homes at Old Durham Gate. We’re proud that this will also be the first development in Durham to feature multi-generational housing, giving families more choice over living with their younger and older members of the family under the same roof.
“Ideally situated within close proximity to Durham city centre, our development will have a fantastic selection of energy-efficient homes that are built to last and adapt to modern life. We would encourage anyone who would like to find out more information about the calibre of homes available to contact our very helpful sales team for more information.”
