A DEVELOPER has agreed to start changing a former council-owned residential area into a low-cost private estate.

A group consisting of Keepmoat, Haslam Homes and Barratt Homes, has exchanged contracts with Darlington Borough Council for work on the town's Firthmoor estate.

Last year, the council completed a two-year programme to demolish 350 houses on the estate to make room for new development.

The streets demolished in the programme were Carlton Moor Crescent, Whorlton Moor Crescent, Bowes Moor Close, Edgemoor Road, Eston Moor Road, High Moor Road, Ingleby Moor Crescent, Cringle Moor Crescent and Forest Moor Road.

Now developers are hoping to build more than 350 houses on the site, most of which will be sold to private buyers.

The estate will also include housing association properties, providing family homes for part-ownership or rent.

Dave Preston, chairman of the Firthmoor Community Partnership, said: "It is wonderful news. It is another piece of the jigsaw towards the regeneration of an area that has tremendous potential.

"The partnership with the developers to bring new homes to the estate will benefit the whole area."

The new development will coincide with the building of the new Firthmoor Primary School.

John Williams, leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: "These are exciting times for Firthmoor. Good quality housing is a cornerstone to the success of the regeneration scheme, and this will happen now we have a first-class developer in place.

"With the building of the new Firthmoor Primary School well under way, and the ongoing work of the Community Partnership, real progress is being made."

The regeneration scheme for Firthmoor started when the area received £3.17m from the Government's Single Regeneration Budget.

That money forms part of a £6.8m, five-year regeneration programme for the Firthmoor estate which is based on helping people in the community help themselves through the work of a Neighbourhood Management Team.

The team co-ordinates work on issues including community enterprise, healthy living, employment training and improving education