Housing regeneration project gets £4.5m boost

The council is currently buying properties on Third Street

A regeneration project which could see more than 100 homes built in a village has received £4.5m in funding.

The scheme, which had already been backed with £6.2m from Durham County Council, involves replacing and refurbishing dilapidated homes in Horden, near Peterlee.

It has now been given a further £4.5m from the North East Combined Authority (NECA).

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said the money was a "down payment" on her ambitions for housing in the region.

The regeneration plan, which was approved in January, revolves around the so-called "numbered streets" in Horden.

Durham County Council said it wanted to redevelop the homes on the streets into high quality housing, or demolish them to build new ones.

It will include some council housing, but the local authority has not confirmed how much.

The council is currently in the process of buying properties on Third Street.

Council leader Amanda Hopgood said the new cash influx would mean they could extend the scope of the regeneration into Fifth Street.

NECA said a "comprehensive rehousing strategy" had been drawn up for those currently living on the numbered streets.