WORK has started on the second phase of a housing development at Nettlesworth, near Chester-le-Street.

The £2.27 million Karbon Homes scheme includes 19 two-bedroom family homes for rent and is an extension of an existing development of 24 homes.

The first phase of The Green, eight two-bedroom bungalows and 16 two-bedroom homes, was completed in March 2015.

Karbon Homes was formed through a merger of Cestria Community Housing and Isos Housing with Derwentside Homes and started trading as one business earlier this month.

Zoey Hawthorn, assistant director of development and property, said: “This is a significant milestone for Karbon Homes as we are committed to providing much-needed, high quality affordable homes for local families across the North-East.

“Our aim is to build more than 500 new homes each year to rent or buy and this is one of our first schemes to get underway.

“There was high demand for these properties after we completed phase one and we are confident this scheme will be just as popular.”

The new energy efficient homes will include features such as improved thermal efficiency of walls, windows and roofs, and waste recycling measures.

Each two-bed home will have a garden, bin storage, a clothes drying area and car parking for residents and their visitors.

The work, by main contractor Galliford Try Partnerships North-East, is expected to be completed early next year with new tenants likely to be moved into their homes in early spring.