South West III & IV (1964 – 1966)
![Aerial view of SW III Area [foreground: Shotton Hall Primary School], 1960’s.](https://peterleehistory.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Aerial-view-of-SW-III2.jpg)
![Aerial view of SW III Area [foreground: Shotton Hall Comprehensive School], 1960’s.](https://peterleehistory.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Aerial-view-of-Shotton-Hall-Primary-and-Comprehensive-School-SWIII-Area_1960s_nt_pe0007_0005_0004_0011.jpg)
The road and housing layouts in the South West III & IV areas extend the orthogonal grid pattern introduced in the South West I & II areas.
The presence of existing mature trees is a feature of South West III which helps give the area an identity that is distinctive from South West I & II. This distinctiveness is further enhanced by the choice of building material.
The South West III & IV areas were built with cured lime brick, with black dye added to a material that is naturally white, creating symbolic reference to a coal face. The visual effect was then sharpened with white panelling. When the dye added to the bricks began fading to a pale grey colour through exposure to the elements, the intended symbolism uncannily started to mirror the fate of the coal industry across the east Durham area.