Vistry Partnerships North East is collaborating with believe housing to work on the second phase of Bishops Park to deliver 331 homes in Durham
Following the success of a mixed tenure development in County Durham last year, work is now underway on the second phase of Bishops Park – worth £60.4m.
Bishops Park saw the delivery of 99 new homes in Durham, of which 49 were for private sale, 20 for shared ownership and the remaining 30 for affordable rent.
Now, developer Vistry Partnerships North East is partnering with believe housing to deliver a further 331 homes.
100 of the properties will be made available for affordable rent and Rent to Buy
Believe housing has purchased 100 of the properties which will be made available for affordable rent and Rent to Buy. The remaining homes will be sold privately under Vistry’s Linden Homes brand.
Completion is expected in October 2026.
Development director with Vistry Partnerships North East, Andrew Rennie, said: “After the success of the first phase at Bishops Park, which helped increase both the choice and quality of housing for local people, we are delighted to be partnering with believe housing to create more affordable homes – and to further enhance this vibrant and sustainable community on the edge of Bishop Auckland.”
Kate Abson, director of Development at believe housing added: “It’s great to see work starting at Bishops Park, where we look forward to providing much-needed affordable housing.
Mix of properties available, including bungalows and family homes
“We’ll have a mix of properties available, including bungalows and family homes for affordable rent, along with Rent-to-Buy properties – which enable customers to save towards buying their home.
“This site isn’t just about putting roofs over people’s heads. It’s about enabling people to live in a high-quality environment and to be part of a vibrant, wider community within reach of both the town’s amenities and the surrounding landscape.”
Cllr Carl Marshall, leader of County Durham Labour, said: “Bishop Auckland has welcomed a great deal of investment and development in recent years and this exciting project only adds to the town’s fantastic offer.
“Bishops Park provides high-quality affordable housing for local people, enabling young families to stay and thrive in the town they grew up in and offers a fantastic mix of homes, ideal for nurturing a successful sustainable community. I’m delighted to see this project, which will be of huge benefit to the town, come to fruition.”
