Easington MP Grahame Morris has voiced his objections to a proposed housing development by social landlord Believe Housing.

Believe Housing is currently seeking feedback on a plan to construct 60 new homes on land located at Sunderland Road in Easington. The proposed scheme includes six affordable-rent bungalows and a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom homes available for affordable rent, rent-to-buy, and shared ownership.

Believe recently organised an in-person consultation event on 26^th June at Seaton Holme in Easington. They are inviting community members to share their thoughts on the scheme through the website www.planninghouse.co.uk/easington-village or by email at easingtonvillage@planninghouse.co.uk until 11^th July.

In his response to the consultation, Mr. Morris highlighted several concerns, ranging from ongoing maintenance and repair issues within Believe’s existing property portfolio to the significant lack of infrastructure to support new housing in the village.

Mr. Morris strongly encourages local residents to actively participate in the consultation process. He stated:

“I appreciate Believe Housing’s commitment to the consultation process and urge local residents to voice their opinions. As a social landlord, Believe prides itself on prioritising people’s needs. Therefore, it is essential for us to engage with them and share our views as the community they aim to serve.

In recent months, I have received an increasing number of complaints from Believe tenants regarding problems such as dampness, mould, and delays in basic repairs. Until Believe can effectively manage its existing housing stock, it would be unwise to put additional pressure on its contractors and staff by introducing new developments.

There are certain aspects of this development that are beyond Believe’s control, such as inadequate public transport links, insufficient school provisions resulting in existing residents struggling to secure places at oversubscribed schools like Easington Academy, and neglected utilities—particularly water—which is unable to cope with current demands, leading to routine dumping of raw sewage in our coastline and waterways.

Furthermore, there is a lack of strategic planning for housing within the local area. There are multiple locations where new housing projects would be welcomed by both me and the community. Examples include the Horden Numbered Streets, the streets in and around Seaside Lane, Easington, or areas with high numbers of vacant and derelict properties in Shotton, Blackhall, and Dawdon. Unfortunately, developers often choose the easier option of readily available green sites, disregarding the wishes of the community.

The private sector, driven by profits, has been unscrupulous in pushing through developments by appealing to the Planning Inspectorate, even when rejected by Durham County Council planning committees. However, as a responsible social landlord dedicated to serving the community, I hope Believe will listen to residents’ concerns and acknowledge that this development is unwanted.

I also hope that Believe can work with Durham County Council to identify areas in East Durham that require investment, regeneration, and new housing. Together, they could develop plans that would gain the support of the entire community.”

Grahame Morris MP Objection Letter, Believe Housing, Sunderland Road Easington.