Hellens Residential has secured Homes England grant funding through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, to support a £27m investment in the delivery of 122 affordable homes at Burtree Garden Village, on the outskirts of Darlington.
The initial phase will include a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom properties, comprising five apartments, 11 bungalows and 106 houses.
The development will be delivered by Hellens Residential, a registered provider of social housing.
Around 60% of the properties will be available for social rent, with the remaining 40% delivered as rent to buy, supporting government priorities to increase the supply of affordable homes and help more people onto a path towards home ownership.
Hellens Residential will also work with Darlington Borough Council during the build phase to identify applicants in housing need and explore where homes can be tailored to meet specific requirements, such as lower-level kitchens and accessible bathrooms in the bungalows.
The first homes are expected to be delivered from May 2027, with the initial phase due to complete in early 2029.
The affordable homes will occupy key parcels within Burtree Garden Village and will set the design standard for the main route through the new community. Parking bays will be positioned to the rear of properties rather than along frontages, improving the appearance and character of the street scene.
The homes are being delivered using Homes England affordable housing funding, adding to the supply of affordable housing beyond what is required through the planning system.
Burtree Garden Village is one of the North East’s largest mixed-use developments and will deliver more than 2,000 new homes over the next 20 years, alongside employment space, green infrastructure, community facilities, local services and sustainable transport connections.
Kate Hellens, managing director of Hellens Residential, said: “This funding is an important step in bringing forward affordable homes at Burtree Garden Village early in the life of the new community.
“We are making a £27m investment in homes which will meet a real range of needs, from social rent to rent to buy, and from apartments and family houses to bungalows.
“Burtree Garden Village has always been about creating a properly planned, mixed community. These homes will be delivered to the same design standards as the wider village and will add affordable housing over and above what is required through the planning process.
“We are pleased to be working with Homes England and Darlington Borough Council to bring these homes forward.”
Graham Brookfield, senior manager, affordable housing growth, North East Yorkshire and Humber, at Homes England, said: “As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting ambitious housebuilders of all sizes to build those homes and communities.
“This investment through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme allows our partners and registered providers to do just that, it has enabled Hellens Residential Limited to build 122 much needed new homes the people of Darlington can be proud of.”
Cllr Chris McEwan, cabinet member for economy at Darlington Borough Council, said: “This funding marks another important step in work to deliver the social housing Darlington urgently needs.
“Hellens Residential has shown real commitment to Burtree Garden Village and to ensuring that affordable homes are part of its progress from the outset, and I am pleased the council has been able to support that work.”
