Luxury homes plan at golf site

10:58am Wednesday 12th November 2008

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AN exclusive millionaires’ row could be created at the heart of the North-East under credit crunch-busting plans unveiled yesterday.

In return for at least £1m each, 12 super-rich individuals would get the chance to design their own ultra-modern home on what is currently the Mount Oswald Golf Course, minutes from Durham city centre.

Each would be built by Huf Haus, a German company best known for its appearance on Channel 4’s Grand Designs and would look to set the highest ecological standards.

The homes constitute the ecoliving quarter of Banks Developments’ Durham Park, a £75m scheme that could also include offices, student accommodation, an inn, a convenience store, community facilities, parkland and wetland.

Banks drew up the project after dropping plans for a £150m business park, which ran into opposition from residents and councillors earlier this year.

John Ruddick, Banks’ project manager for Durham Park, said: “We think there’s a need for highquality executive housing. It’s going to be of such a high ecostandard – it’s something you don’t have anywhere else in the North-East.”

Durham Park would have four quarters – eco-living, commerce, knowledge and parkland.

The striking glass and timber Huf Haus homes would have between three and five bedrooms.

The commerce quarter would include up to 11,600sq metres of office space, an inn with up to 40 bedrooms and a convenience store, and could cater for up to 1,000 jobs.

The knowledge quarter would have up to 7,000sq ft of offices and residential halls for hundreds of students.

The parkland quarter would cover almost half of the 98-acre site. The Grade II-listed Mount Oswald Manor House would be turned into apartments for the over 55s.

Banks’ earlier plans involved creating 65,000 square metres of office space and 30 homes.

Mr Ruddick said: “There will still be an element of people who don’t want the development to go ahead full stop, but I think people will see a different approach from us this time round.”

A decision on the scheme is likely to be several months away.

Banks Developments’ Durham Park plans will go on public display in Mount Oswald Manor House’s Campbell Suite on Wednesday, November 19, between 3pm and 7pm.