A milestone housing scheme bringing much-needed affordable homes to Hartlepool has been completed.

28 new homes have been built for social rent at Golden Meadows, off Seaton Lane – some of the first local authority properties to be constructed in the town for many years.

A mix of two, three and four-bedroom properties, the new development is the result of a successful partnership between Hartlepool Borough Council, Housing Hartlepool and Yuill Construction, the contracting division of Hartlepool-based Yuill Homes.

The scheme was made possible by a £4.2m grant from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) for the construction of 82 homes for social rent across three sites in the town. This money, which is being match-funded by the Council, is also supporting schemes at Kipling Road and Charles/Surtees Streets.

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"Warm and less expensive to run, these homes will help to set a higher standard for sustainable living in Hartlepool," said David Curtis, executive director for the HCA in the North East, Yorkshire and The Humber. "Our role is all about helping to make things happen in local communities, and this is another great example of that local approach in action."

The Golden Meadows homes attain level four on the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes, and feature photovoltaic panels, meaning they are both energy efficient and particularly cost effective to run.

Their completion will be celebrated at an official launch ceremony later this week, with the town's MP Iain Wright set to cut the ribbon on the new development.

"It's great to see that Hartlepool has become one of the first places in the country to see the return of council houses," said Mr Wright. "The Golden Meadows development provides much-needed high quality affordable homes in the town as well as helping Yuill create more local employment opportunities."

The development is one of a series of schemes locally to be funded by the Homes and Communities Agency, which is also investing £2m in 68 new eco-homes at nearby Easington Road and £3m in 84 homes in the Belle Vue area.

(CD/GK)