A County Durham housing association has reached a major milestone this week with the completion of its first new build development, thanks to investment from the Homes and Communities Agency.

The 22 bungalows have been constructed for Chester-le-Street-based landlord Cestria Community Housing and are the first new affordable homes to be built by the association, providing much needed homes for the area.

They mark the start of an ambitious development programme which will see Cestria develop a further 24 new homes this year in the nearby village of Nettlesworth. The association has also recently submitted plans for a specialist housing scheme for older people in the centre of Chester-le-Street.

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Chief Executive Paul Fiddaman said: "Earlier this year, Cestria celebrated its fifth anniversary and it is fitting that the completion of our first new properties comes as we now look forward to our next five years. Having delivered the promises we made to tenants at the time of transfer, and invested millions of pounds in improving our existing homes, we are now looking at how we can continue to develop as an organisation in the future.

"Building new homes is a major priority – we know there is a shortage of affordable housing locally and with recent changes to the welfare system we only expect this demand to grow in coming years. We are delighted to welcome new tenants to these properties and hope they will be very happy in their new homes."

The two-bedroom bungalows have been built for Cestria by contractor Galliford Try in the village of Sacriston, about four miles North West of Durham.

(CD/MH)