Plans to deliver an extra care scheme and two apartment blocks for over 55s at Seaham Garden Village have been given the go ahead by Durham County Council’s planning committee.
The multi-million pound development at the garden village site, led by northern housing association Karbon Homes, will deliver 118 extra care apartments, designed to help people with differing levels of care and support needs to live well and independently, and 93 apartments for over 55s.
Esh Construction is the lead contractor for the 750-home Seaham Garden Village development, and the recent planning approval will mark the fourth phase of the project since work began on site in July 2024.
Grant Watson, Construction Director at Esh Construction, said: “We’re proud to be continuing our strong relationship with Karbon on the next phase of Seaham Garden Village, bringing forward an extra care development that will make a real difference to people’s lives.
“The scheme responds directly to a growing need for high-quality, supported housing in the area, helping residents to live independently while remaining part of a thriving community. Securing planning consent is an important step, and we’re looking forward to working closely with Karbon to help realise the long-term vision for the garden village.”
With work underway on over 200 of its family homes and apartments so far, this next stage of affordable housing development illustrates Karbon’s commitment to building a mixed community and ensuring Seaham Garden Village offers something for residents of all stages of life.
Zoey Hawthorne Group Director of Development at Karbon Homes, said: “We’re pleased to hear the news that our next phase of development at Seaham Garden Village has been given the planning go ahead, providing modern, high-quality homes that will help meet the demand for supported housing in the area.
“This marks an important milestone in the development of this new community at Seaham, adding housing that meets the needs of local residents either in later life, or who need support to live independently.”
The homes are being built for a mix of social rent and affordable rent, and affordable routes into home ownership through shared ownership and rent to buy. All will be connected to a new ultra-low carbon mine water heating network, an initiative Karbon has partnered with Durham County Council, the Mining Remediation Authority and Vital Energi to deliver.
The extra care and supported housing blocks will be located at the heart of the new community, alongside a commercial centre with a shop, a health and wellbeing hub and a new school.
The delivery of Seaham Garden Village is being supported by funding from Homes England, through Karbon’s Strategic Partnership with the government’s housing delivery agency. The site received Garden Village status from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in 2019.
Karbon is delivering half of the total 1,500 homes that will be built on the 78-hectare site, located on the A182 going into Seaham town centre. The remaining 750 are being developed by national housebuilders Taylor Wimpey and Miller Homes for outright sale.