A major County Durham housing development is officially underway after prospective tenants cut the first sod at a groundbreaking ceremony.

The £5.6 million scheme will create 50 new Council-owned homes for older people at Park Avenue Close, in the market town of Crook.

The new homes, backed by £2.6 million in funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), will be owned by Durham County Council and managed by Dales and Valley Homes.

Residents are looking forward to moving into the first new homes when the development’s first phase is complete later this year, leaving the way clear to replace their existing flats with a second phase of apartments.

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"Warm, secure and modern homes can make a huge difference in people’s lives," said Ali Lumley, investment and regeneration manager at the HCA. "With development at Park Avenue Close taking place in two phases, residents can continue to enjoy the convenient location close to the town centre with minimum disruption.

"The Homes and Communities Agency is all about helping housing providers like the county council and Dale & Valley Homes to make things happen in their own neighbourhoods, and this is a great example of our local approach in action."

A total of 46 apartments and four bungalows have been designed for lifelong living, meaning that they are wheelchair accessible and can be adapted as residents' needs change.

(CD)