A FIRM of international property consultants is to start selling luxury homes in the region.

King Sturge, one of the biggest commercial property consultants in the UK, is entering Newcastle's residential market.

The firm will work on behalf of developers and house builders as well as the public, and is already enjoying success on the Pandongate House and Staiths South Bank developments.

Edward Seymour, pictured, who for 12 years was a property consultant in London during a major property boom, is leading King Sturge Residential in Newcastle. He joins King Sturge with more than two years' experience of the residential market in Newcastle having worked on successful schemes such as The Turnbull Building, 55 Degrees North and 93A Grey Street.

He said: "Newcastle has a huge number of quality new developments and redevelopment schemes, as well as a healthy stock of second-hand stock.

"Thanks to developments such as the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, the International Music Centre, and the Millennium Bridge, the area's face is changing and thus there is a lot of national attention here now.

"This is impacting on the property market, with Newcastle fast becoming the city everyone wants to be part of."