Work begins on Burtree Garden Village as construction officially gets underway
Construction has officially commenced at Burtree Garden Village, a major housing and employment development led by Hellens Group in partnership with Homes England in Darlington.
The start of on-site was marked by a ceremonial sod-cutting event attended by Lola McEvoy, MP for Darlington; Cllr Chris McEwan, Deputy Leader of Darlington Borough Council; representatives from Homes England; and Gavin Cordwell-Smith and Kate Hellens of Hellens Group.
The scheme will deliver 2,000 new homes over the next 20 years, up to 200,000 sq. m of employment space, and essential infrastructure to support a growing community. The first phase of the development includes 750 homes, green infrastructure, and a 20-acre public park, with nearly half of the site designated as green open space. Plans also include retail outlets, community facilities, and sustainable transport connections.
Homes England has committed £43 million to support the delivery of infrastructure, including highway improvements, sustainable transport options, and green infrastructure. Darlington Borough Council is a key partner in the project, contributing land and providing strategic oversight to ensure successful delivery.
Gavin Cordwell-Smith, chief executive of Hellens Group, said: “Breaking ground at Burtree Garden Village is a proud and exciting milestone. This project has been years in the making and will deliver a vibrant, sustainable community with much-needed homes, employment space, and green infrastructure. We’re delighted to begin the on-site phase and grateful to our partners for their continued support.”
Lola McEvoy, MP for Darlington, said: “This is a really exciting development. It’s really important that we get building houses because for too long there have been so many good developers trying to do the right thing so that people can have nice places to live with the correct infrastructure and a mix of tenures.”
Cllr Chris McEwan, Deputy Leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: “It’s good to see a partnership that’s been developing for a number of years start to deliver in a tangible way on the ground.”
Jon Irvine, national development director at Homes England, said: “Burtree Garden Village is a great example of how strong partnerships can unlock transformational places. We’re proud to support a project that will deliver high-quality homes, employment opportunities, and vital infrastructure for the region.”
Initial works on-site include preparatory groundworks and infrastructure installation, paving the way for the first homes to be built. Further updates on the development timeline and key milestones will be shared as the project progresses.
