THE redevelopment of the former Consett steelworks site is gathering pace with 200 houses planned.

Three plots of land around the 700-acre site are to be developed for housing, including two sites which are being developed by a housing arm of regeneration body Dysart Developments.

The move follows increasing evidence that the town is reversing the dramatic population decline in the wake of the closure of the steelworks 25 years ago.

Last week, Bowey Homes was granted planning permission to build 60 houses on a five-acre site near Fell View, The Grove.

Meanwhile, two schemes proposed by Dysart Residential are at an advanced stage.

The company was formed by Dysart Developments, one of the main shareholders in regeneration agency Project Genesis.

It has been granted planning permission for 74 houses on land near Park Road, while work is now under way on 76 homes at Templetown, at the other end of the site.

The Templetown development, which is expected to be completed by the summer, will be called The Chequers and will feature a range of houses, from two to five bedroomed homes, starting from £125,000.

The move into housing development represents a change in tack for Dysart. Morris Muter, managing director of Project Genesis, said: "We have previously led all of the non-residential developments on the Consett steelworks site, without involving ourselves in new homes.

"I quickly realised, when I became managing director of Project Genesis, that there was great opportunity to expand the scope of our business by building quality homes suited to the needs of local people."

Construction work is being carried out by Mansell on behalf of the developer.

The three housing projects are the latest developments on the site, which is also the subject of recently-announced plans for a restaurant, a £20m sports complex and the £1.3m Consett Innovation Centre, which opened late last year to offer help to fledgling businesses.

The new developments stand alongside existing retail outlets and the new home of Derwentside College.

Derwentside District Council leader Councillor Alex Watson said the latest development was further proof that Consett was reversing the trend of population decline in the wake of the loss of heavy industry.