A MOTHER and daughter are set to be among the first tenants of a new village housing estate.

Joanne Burnip and her daughter Lillie, nine, were on hand to celebrate the opening of Prince Bishop Mews, a six-home development in Ushaw Moor, near Durham.

The properties have been built by Prince Bishops Homes, which is offering a ‘rent to buy’ scheme under which tenants would have the chance to buy their home after four years by sharing any increase in equity value and using this as a deposit for a mortgage.

Ms Burnip, 41, said: “Renting at the moment is perfect but in four years’ time, when I will be offered the chance to buy the house, hopefully I will have a new career and be able to get onto the property ladder.”

The scheme was praised by National Housing Federation chief executive David Orr, who officially opened the new development.