Plans for a £24m development of new homes in a County Durham village have been given the green light.

Hailed as a welcome boost for local housing stock, the move will see developer Karbon Homes move ahead with plans to build 104 affordable homes on the site of the former Roseberry Sports Community College in Pelton to the north of Chester-le-Street.

This will include 53 rent-to-buy properties with their own private amenity space to the rear, as part of a significant investment project together with 31 apartments and eight bungalows for the over 50s living sector.

More than 100 car parking spaces for residents along with 47 parking spots for visitors will also feature alongside new landscaping and access roads.

The multi-million-pound scheme comes as the Government continues to push for the delivery of new properties to meet the chronic housing shortage and arrest the decline in the affordability of home ownership. It also wants to relieve the pressure on the social rented sector, which has prompted the growth in private renting.

Onsite building work, which could see an estimated 125 construction and supply chain jobs created, is expected to start in the next few weeks, with the first phase of properties expected to be available by spring 2023.

Hedley Planning Services planner Alex Franklin, who oversaw unanimous approval of the plans by County Durham Council planning committee, said: “The development will provide the benefit of affordable housing for local people, contributing to a strong sense of place and community for new residents.

“As planners, we always want to see the creation of much needed and worthwhile affordable housing projects in the north east region that leave a long-lasting legacy. This one should be welcomed as it will undoubtedly see a real positive change in this part of County Durham and stimulate regeneration.”