NEW homes are being built in Bishop Auckland.

The 99 properties will offer both public and private ownership options after Linden Homes and The Riverside Group joined forces.

Once finished, the properties which will be for sale, shared ownership and affordable rent.

The development, on an eight-acre plot at Bishop’s Park, is part of a larger site originally granted outline planning permission for 500 homes in 2011. However, the proposal did not come to fruition and the land, earmarked for housing since 2007, was never developed.

Now, by using grant secured from Homes England’s 2016/21 Affordable Homes Programme, the partners have created a financially viable scheme for the site, adjacent to Douglas Crescent.

When completed it will provide 99 homes in total, 49 for sale with Linden Homes and 50 homes with Riverside.

Linden Homes’ sales director, Tracy Iles, said: “This is a development which will meet the needs of all those seeking homes in this area.

“There will be two, three and four bedroomed houses for families wanting to buy, those whose budget is more suited to a shared ownership option and people seeking homes with affordable rents. We can deliver this by working, once again with our partner, Riverside Home Ownership, to create a vibrant and sustainable community on the edge of Bishop Auckland.”

John Gill, sales manager with Riverside Home Ownership, added: “We are thrilled to be working with Galliford Try once again on a development in the North East. Bishop’s Park will provide a range of housing options that will suit many people in the area and so we expect interest to be very high.”

Details of the homes available will be released when the sales team open for business on site.

A VIP event - for those who register interest - will also be held on April 4 and a launch event over the weekend of April 6 and 7 for the general public.