Plans for a new multi-million pound residential and leisure development in a County Durham town have been submitted for approval.
Initiated by local community organisation, Crook Community Leisure, a planning application is being considered by Durham County Council for 29 one, two and three bedroomed affordable homes on land to the north of Crook town centre, which are designed to meet the needs of local families, elderly residents and military veterans.
The move could see up to 100 new jobs in construction and the associated supply chain created while hundreds of thousands of pounds annually would be generated in extra revenue from people using the leisure facilities and paying community taxes.
A concurrent outline application has been lodged for a significant extension to the existing leisure centre at Peases West Sports Centre run by Crook Community Leisure. New facilities will include a new 25 m, six lane public swimming pool, multi-purpose studio room and an all-weather 3G rugby, football and hockey pitch with floodlighting. The car park is also scheduled for an upgrade to 103 spaces to support the new activities.
Together the projects seek to prioritise social and physical wellbeing with a focus on community facilities and generous public space. The housing layout features a two community rooms, an orchard, shared gardens, natural play-spaces and allotments for residents, along with improved access to the extended leisure facilities.
The inclusion of a large function room within the leisure centre will also offer high quality space for events and weddings as part of the combined £10 million scheme being hailed by Hedley Planning Services as a ‘big boost’ for the local community.
Director Joe Ridgeon said: “This project is an exciting opportunity to provide high-quality housing and a much-needed leisure facility boost for local people to enjoy.
“The commercial pressures associated with affordable housing are different to volume house building. Our experience working for registered social housing providers and developers across the region means that we can add value to this type of planning.”
