Strata bags consent for 250 County Durham homes

Formerly home to an Electrolux factory, the housebuilder intends the scheme at Merrington Lane, Spennymoor to include both market-sale and affordable homes.

The brownfield site is allocated for housing in the local plan, with outline consent previously secured by Homes England – this now being firmed up into detailed permission for 248 homes.

Working in partnership with Homes England, Yorkshire firm Strata will deliver the homes alongside contributions to highways improvements, education provision, and sustainable travel.

The scheme will provide a mix of two, three, four, and five-bedroom dwellings, the offer designed to cover family living and opportunities for first-time buyers. The final balance of open-market and affordable homes is still to be confirmed.

In line with Strata’s sustainability strategy, a proportion of the homes will be delivered using timber-frame construction. The development will also deliver new areas of public open space.

Claire Linley, planning director at Strata, said: “Securing planning permission for 248 much-needed family homes at Merrington Lane in Spennymoor is a major step forward in our partnership with Homes England.

“This milestone paves the way for us to deliver high-quality homes that will meet local housing needs and help create a vibrant new community.”

Electrolux closed the cooker plant in 2007, with production moving to southern Poland.

Simon Herring, development director at Homes England, added: “As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, one of our key objectives is transforming brownfield sites into much needed new homes for communities across England. This site exemplifies this.”

The new development is linked to Spennymoor and nearby towns including Ferryhill and Bishop Auckland. North Park Primary and Nursery School is within 800m of the site, and local health services are available within 2km.