A NORTH Durham housing association reached a major milestone today (Friday, May 24) when it officially unveiled its first new-build development.

The Cestria Community Housing development on the former Crossleas site, in Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, comprises 22 two-bedroom bungalows.

Its completion marks the start of an ambitious development programme which will see Cestria develop a further 24 new homes this year in the nearby village of Nettlesworth. The association has also submitted plans for a specialist housing scheme for older people in the centre of Chester-le-Street.

North Durham MP Kevan Jones today joined staff and tenants from Cestria to plant a time capsule to mark the occasion official opening of the new affordable homes.

The time capsule was put together by tenants living at St John’s Court and Graham Court - sheltered housing owned and managed by the association.

It included a DVD with a recording of them discussing the village through the years.

William Eggleston, 90, of St John’s Court, spoke about his experiences as a flight engineer during the Second World War, when the Halifax bomber he was in was shot down on D-Day over France and he went into hiding.

All properties on the new development feature off-street parking and private gardens and there are two communal landscaped gardens.

Cestria chairman David Butler said: “Earlier this year, Cestria celebrated its fifth anniversary and it is fitting that the completion of our first new properties comes as we now look forward to our next five years.

“Building new homes is a major priority – we know there is a shortage of affordable housing within the district and we expect this demand will grow in the coming years.”

Mr Jones said: “Everyone involved can be very proud of this new development, which has not only provided some much needed new homes in the village, but also represents a marked transformation of the area.”

One of its first tenants, Patricia Collinge, 70, said: “The homes are really lovely. They are very warm and there is so much space, particularly in the bathroom.”

The Crossleas development received £346,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to help fund the scheme, with the properties constructed for Cestria by contractor Galliford Try.