A NEW housing development is a step closer after support from a law firm.

Swinburne Maddison, in Durham City, has completed a triple site purchase on behalf of Prince Bishops Homes, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Derwentside Homes.

The three sites, which are in the Stanley area of County Durham, were bought from Durham County Council.

The deal will help the building of 59 two-bed bungalows and eight three-bed houses in an £8m project.

Construction will start in June, though bosses say a building contractor has yet to be appointed.

Swinburne Maddison has a longstanding relationship with Derwentside Homes, which owns and manages about 6,700 properties formerly owned by Derwentside District Council.

Partner Victoria Walton said: “With its large portfolio of property, Derwentside Homes handles a large number of applications for housing each year and is committed to addressing the pressing need for additional housing stock within the County Durham area.

“We were pleased to have had the opportunity to work with them again.”

Steve Melvin, Derwentside Homes' director of operations, added: “We are pleased we have been able to secure a further three sites for housing.

“Some of the new homes will be built with the support of the Homes and Communities Agency funding and Prince Bishops Homes will be working in close partnership with Durham County Council across all three sites.”

Swinburne Maddison employs 39 staff, including six partners, and attracts corporate and commercial service clients from across the North-East and beyond.

Earlier this year, it added to its team with the appointment of assistant solicitors Chris Ross and Anna Stephenson.

Mr Ross, who has spent most of his career in commercial property, also has experience of the residential property market after spending time as an in-house adviser to a major housebuilder.

Ms Stephenson is a qualified member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and has joined Swinburne Maddison's private client team.

Her trusts and estates specialism will allow her to advise clients on inheritance, trusts and lifetime planning issues.