Esh Construction has handed over the first 11 homes at Seaham Garden Village marking a significant step forward in bringing affordable housing to the new garden village.
The first completions have paved the way for Karbon Homes to open the doors to the development’s new show homes, showcasing two three-bedroom house types to members of the public that are interested in making Seaham Garden Village their future home.
The homes are the first of 750 that Karbon is delivering on 78-hectare site through the next 10 years, with more than 200 now under construction across three phases.
Mark Binns, Operations Director at Esh Construction, said: “We’re incredibly proud to reach this major milestone at Seaham Garden Village. Opening the show homes at this juncture is the result of a huge collective effort from everyone involved since breaking ground and it’s fantastic to see the vision for this new community starting to take shape.
“Our close collaboration with Karbon Homes has been central to delivering high-quality, sustainable homes that will benefit local people for generations to come. It’s brilliant to now be able to open the doors and show the local community exactly what’s being built on their doorstep – homes that are not only affordable, but part of a vibrant, inclusive neighbourhood.”
60 more homes are due to complete over the next 12 months as part of Karbon’s first phase of development. Phases two and three will see 84 and 57 homes built respectively, including both family homes and apartments.
The properties will be available for a mix of both social rent and affordable rent, as well as affordable home ownership schemes such as Rent to Buy and Shared Ownership in a bid to support residents who want to take their first steps onto the property ladder.
Jill Jones, Head of Sales, Lettings and Customer Care at Karbon Homes, said: “Handing over the first homes to residents and opening our show homes marks an important step in the development of Seaham Garden Village. Our offer of affordable housing options on the development makes this new garden village a truly inclusive community, that meets the diverse housing needs of local people.
“Our show homes are open so that residents attracted to life on Seaham Garden Village can come see, feel, and imagine living in one of our homes, and have an opportunity to meet the team and ask questions. It’s an exciting start to what will be a busy next few years, as more and more phases of new homes come to fruition.”
The 78-hectare Seaham Garden Village, located on the A182 going into Seaham town centre, will include a new primary school, convenience retail and health and wellbeing facilities, and have over three miles of landscaped paths and cycle routes.
The affordable homes will utilise one of the UK’s first large-scale mine water heat projects, an initiative led by Durham County Council and the Mining Remediation Authority and being delivered by Vital Energi. The first homes will be connected to the system in the new year.
The delivery of Seaham Garden Village is supported by funding from Homes England, through Karbon’s Strategic Partnership with the government’s housing delivery agency. Alongside the affordable homes, another 750 properties are being developed by national housebuilders Taylor Wimpey and Miller Homes for outright sale.
We’re incredibly proud to reach this major milestone at Seaham Garden Village. Opening the show homes at this juncture is the result of a huge collective effort from everyone involved since breaking ground and it’s fantastic to see the vision for this new community starting to take shape. Our close collaboration with Karbon Homes has been central to delivering high-quality, sustainable homes that will benefit local people for generations to come.”
