Work is set to start on new eco-friendly homes in Hartlepool's Belle Vue area, following confirmation of £3 million in funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The £9.25 million scheme, led by Housing Hartlepool, will transform an area which forms a key gateway into the town, replacing unpopular housing with modern homes.

The announcement was welcomed by lifelong local resident and community activist Bob Farrow, who took the controls of the first demolition digger when the project got underway last year.

"It's smashing news, and will have a great impact on the town," said Bob, who was born in nearby Borrowdale Street. "I hope we can get some of the old residents back and attract some new people into the area too. It’s not just about buildings, it’s about people – and the community spirit here is second to none."

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The scheme is the latest in a series of Hartlepool-based projects supported by the Homes and Communities Agency, which is supporting the development of the town's first new Council homes for decades at Charles Street, Seaton Lane and Kipling Road, as well as Housing Hartlepool's development at Easington Road. It follows the unveiling of Housing Hartlepool’s striking new bungalows at nearby Laureate Close last month.

The site, which was identified as a key priority by both Hartlepool New Deal for Communities and the Central Hartlepool Partnership, has been the focus of a long-term commitment by Housing Hartlepool, Hartlepool Borough Council and local residents.

The scheme, which will be built by Frank Haslam Milan (FHM), will feature 84 properties in the first phase of development. A mixture of 2, 3 and 4-bed houses and 2 bed bungalows will include 39 homes for rent, and 30 for sale. Meanwhile, a further 15 will help local people onto the property ladder through intermediate rent and shared ownership options.

(CD/GK)