A DISUSED former allotment site which has been transformed into a £2.8m housing development was officially opened today (Thursday, October 25).

Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association (DAMHA) has developed 24 two-bedroom bungalows at Steel Street, Consett, which is now known as Shotleyfield View.

They were officially opened by Lady Elsie Robson as her late husband, Sir Bobby Robson performed a similar opening for the association in Gilesgate in 2001.

The homes have now all been let to people in housing need aged 50 and over, and feature solar panels which capture the sun’s energy to help to heat the water in the homes.

As well as the solar panels, the properties all have underground tanks that capture and recycle water so it can be used to flush toilets.

Lady Robson was given a tour of the property of 67-year-old Norma Savage, who described her home as “my little heaven.”

Declaring the development open, Lady Robson said: “It is with great pleasure that I officially open Shotleyfield View.

“My husband opened a scheme for DAMHA in 2001, so it is nice to be able to continue this tradition.

“The houses are beautiful and I was made to feel very welcome by everyone at DAMHA and also by Norma who showed me around her home, which she is rightfully proud of.”

The association has made a donation to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, which was set up by the late former Newcastle and England football manager before he died and is committed to fighting cancer across the region.

The association’s chief executive Paul Mullis said: “We are extremely honoured to have had Lady Robson opening such an important development for us.

“This is one of our biggest affordable schemes in recent history and it has played an important part in helping to meet the local demand for spacious, high quality bungalows of this nature.”