AN £150,000 investment in housing in the North-East has been announced by the Government to build the region's largest new settlement.

The funding is part of an £8m Government investment to build new homes.

A total of £6 million will be allocated to help new locally-led garden towns and villages progress plans to deliver up to 200,000 new homes.

The latest new garden community to receive backing from the Government will be built at Wynyard, which has already received £150,000 and will make it the largest new settlement in the North East, delivering up to 6,800 new homes.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “I am delighted that this funding has been approved and it is another example of the Government’s commitment to projects in the Tees Valley – they are supporting my ambition to make our region a better place to live and work.

“The proposed garden community will take more pressure off nearby developments when it comes to excessive building which is changing the character of our villages and towns for the worse and proving to be a real headache for residents.

"This announcement is more evidence that this government is listening to the concerns of people in this region and acting upon them.”

Funding worth £1.9m is also being given to councils to support new neighbourhood plans.