PLANS to demolish empty homes, garages and a meeting hall and replace them with 18 affordable houses have been approved.

Durham County Council’ s planning committee gave the go ahead to the scheme in Chilton when they met on Thursday afternoon (June 19).

In a report to councillors, planning officer Paul Hopper said all but five of the houses which used to occupy the 0.4ha site on Hunter Terrace have already been demolished.

Now social housing provider Livin want to remove the last five as well as garages and an old meeting hall.

The company plans to build 18 new homes which would be classed as affordable.

Mr Hopper said 12 of the homes would have two bedrooms with six houses having three bedrooms, while there would also be parking spaces for 27 resident’s cars and nine bays for visitors.

The planning officer recommended the plans be approved by the committee describing the scheme as “acceptable”.

He said: “The redevelopment of the site would provide much needed affordable housing in a locality where a need has been identified.”

Councillors were unanimous in their support for the development.