Construction work has begun on an award-winning sustainable housing scheme which will bring 76 new eco-homes to the vibrant, Ouseburn valley in Newcastle, on land owned by the Homes and Communities Agency and Newcastle City Council.

The leader of Newcastle City Council, Cllr Nick Forbes, looked on as the transformation of the former Ice Factory and Heaney's Coachworks site on the banks of the Ouseburn got underway.

The £14m Malings project – named after Malings Pottery which operated on the site during the 1800s – will see developer Carillion-igloo deliver on its promise to bring low-energy, high-quality and neighbourhood-focused housing to the Lower Ouseburn Valley.

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The design by architects Cany Ash and Robert Sakula has received national recognition, having been named winner in the Housing Design Awards 2013.

David Roberts, igloo Project Director, said: "The Ouseburn Valley is just such a fantastic location and a place that we have come to love since preparing our initial schemes here in 2006. The time is now right to pioneer high-quality housing in the Valley with an outstanding example of 21st century living – low-energy, high-quality, neighbourhood-focused healthy living."

Anne Mulroy, Head of Area at the Homes and Communities Agency said: "It is terrific to see how our partners are transforming this site and creating a new community which will offer so much to the residents. These first homes will provide something that is not only very high quality but as importantly different from any of the existing housing developments locally. The rebirth of the valley as a modern mixed use community is great news for the whole city of Newcastle."

(CD/MH)