RESIDENTS are settling into life in a £950,000 eco-friendly housing scheme, which forms part of the regeneration of a County Durham village.
Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association (DAMHA) has created nine new homes behind the Co-operative store in Esh Winning.
The nine bungalows have all been let to people in housing need aged 50 and over and feature solar panels which capture the sun’s energy to help to heat the water in the homes.
As well as the solar panels, the properties all have underground tanks that capture rainwater and effectively recycle it so it can be used in washing machines and to flush toilets.
Among the first residents to move in is 74-year-old Audrey Renahan, who says she is delighted with her two-bedroom bungalow.
She said: “When my friends see my house they are very jealous and I couldn’t have wished for anything better. They are perfect.”
The properties were developed for DAMHA by the Durham Villages Regeneration Company (DVRC) – a partnership between Durham County Council and regeneration specialist, Keepmoat, with grant funding of £540,000 towards from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
Gordon Gray, DAMHA Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted with the feedback we have received to this development. There is a big demand for high quality, spacious bungalows like this, so we are pleased to be able to play our part in helping to regenerate Esh Winning.”