Multi-million Pound Development to Deliver Supported Needs Home in England

Plans to deliver an extra care scheme, and two apartment blocks for residents over 55 at England’s 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 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 residents over 55.

Esh Construction is the lead contractor for the 750-home development, with the recent planning approval marking the fourth phase of the project since work began onsite in July 2024.

With work underway on over 200 of its family homes and apartments, this next stage of affordable housing development illustrates the commitment to building a mixed community and ensuring Seaham Garden Village offers something for residents of all stages of life.

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 center with a shop, a health and well-being 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.

The housing association 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 center. The remaining 750 are being developed by national housebuilders Taylor Wimpey and Miller Homes for outright sale.