Affordable homes for vandal-hit village site.

A BUILDER yesterday won planning permission for an pounds 8m affordable homes project near Sunderland.

The company, Primo by Gladedale, is to redevelop land behind Neil Street together with the former Bat Cave pub and Cross House at the junction with Pemberton Bank, Easington Lane.

The pub, derelict for 15 years and persistently attacked by vandals, will be demolished as part of the development of 77 two-, three-and four-bedroom homes.

As part of the planning permission Gladedale is also investing more than pounds 350,000 in the local community, with a view to providing children's play facilities, areas of open space and new educational facilities.

Primo by Gladedale managing director Len Worsfold said: "The Bat Cave is set within a prominent position in the village, but over the years has fallen into disrepair and has become an eyesore. We will replace it with well-designed two-storey apartments.

"Our investment will create much needed new housing and transform this now derelict site into a vibrant and highly sought-after housing development, and follows the successful developments in both Hetton le Hole and South Hetton."

Demolition work on the Bat Cave is expected to begin in May and Cross House, which has housed a series of businesses, will also be demolished so safety improvements can be made to the junction.

The project is part of a the company's pounds 45m development programme to create more than 430 homes in the North East.