Bellway has welcomed the first visitors to a new Darlington development which could generate around £4.5 million of investment in infrastructure for the area.
Up to 985 homes and a range of community facilities could eventually be built at the site. These include a primary school with playing field, sports pitches, a local store and GP surgery, all of which have been outlined for the new neighbourhood off Staindrop Road, at the western edge of the town.
Work is well underway on the development’s first phase, known as Baydale Village, which has full planning consent for 428 homes and where Bellway opened the doors to a sales and information centre on Saturday (25 April).
The outline planning agreement for the wider development includes a commitment to paying £4,497,356 in contributions towards road and roundabout improvements, alongside sustainable transport.
Lindsey Oliver, Head of Sales for Bellway Durham, said: “Baydale Village has been designed around the ethos of creating a community and this is something our team has embraced.
“One of the first connections we made after starting work on site was with Mowden Infant and Junior School and its Year 5 pupils who have helped to choose road names for the development.
“We are also focused on creating a sense of community within the development, which will be supported by the land we provide for key facilities.
“It was a pleasure to welcome the first potential residents to the site over the weekend. We took the opportunity to explain more about the vision for Baydale Village. This will be a sustainable new community, with low-carbon technology included within the homes, surrounded by green open spaces and new wildlife habitats.”
Many of the homes at Baydale Village will feature air source heat pumps and solar PV panels to ensure they run with maximum energy efficiency. There will also be electric vehicle charging points to encourage greener transport.
The first phase of the development includes 300 homes for private sale, ranging from two to five-bedroom properties and including 20 bungalows. There will be 128 affordable homes. These will be available through low-cost rent, shared ownership or at a discount through the Government’s First Homes scheme.
Bellway Durham will build 281 of the homes within the first phase, with the remaining 147 being constructed by Bellway’s North East division under the Ashberry Homes brand.
The Bellway showhomes are due to be ready in the autumn and the first residents could move into their homes before the end of the year. For more information see https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/durham/baydale-village
