Story Homes to take on 550-home development

The housebuilder has acquired an 84-acre development site in North Tyneside’s priority housing expansion area from Northumberland Estates.

Off Killingworth Lane, the site will see Cumbrian firm Story deliver a phased development over 10 years, with properties ranging from two to six bedrooms.

Colin Wood, chief executive of Story Homes, said: “We are thrilled to have completed the purchase of this site at Killingworth Moor, which represents a substantial investment from our business and will pave the way for much-needed high quality new homes.

“This site is a very exciting addition to our growing land portfolio, further positioning Story Homes as a leading housebuilder in the North of England. This development is set to shape the housing landscape in the region and we’re incredibly proud to be forging ahead with our expansion across the North East.”

North Tyneside Council’s Local Plan for housing growth includes two strategic allocations, one of which is Killingworth Moor, the other being Murton Gap, which incorporates Story Homes’ existing Robinson Fields development at Rake Lane.

The adopted Killingworth Moor masterplan will deliver approximately 2,000 homes, together with education facilities, local services, employment uses, green infrastructure and amenity space.

Story’s site forms ‘phase one north’ of the masterplan area, and already benefits from hybrid planning consent: comprising full planning permission for 432 homes and outline consent for 118 homes.

Associated highways, infrastructure and engineering works, landscaping and open space are also consented.

Story Homes said it will work closely with North Tyneside Council to progress with detailed planning on the first phase of development, located to the south of the site.

Subject to smooth progress through planning, the firm hopes to start on site in summer 2025.

Banks Property and Bellway are also advancing housing within the Killlingworth masterplan area, working in the phase one south sector.

Following a land deal completed in May, Bellway will advance 539 homes in a project called Western Grange.

Stuart Morgan, land director for Story Homes, said: “Over recent years we have placed a continued focus on acquiring high-profile sites across the North East; to have secured opportunities for residential development at both of the council’s strategic allocations for North Tyneside demonstrates our commitment to building high specification homes in places where people want to live.”

Story Homes has completed a string of successful land deals with Northumberland Estates in recent years, including sites at Rake Lane and Alnwick.

Colin Barnes, planning & development director for Northumberland Estates, said: “We are delighted to have agreed another land deal with Story Homes who are based in the North, further strengthening our partnership, and the deal will allow us to re-invest further into the region, particularly in commercial development and renewables.

“Good quality housing and employment opportunities that flow from this all contribute to the success of the area.

“It was a pleasure to work with Story Homes on their recent schemes in Alnwick and Rake Lane, and the success of these developments gave us the confidence to do business again.”

As part of the new scheme, Story Homes will make Section 106 payments totalling more than £2.4m, including contributions towards primary education, coastal mitigation, sports and recreation, public transport and travel.

The housebuilder could also pay around £5.8m in Community Infrastructure Levy as part of the proposed development.

Among the infrastructure required, works will include the creation of a new dumbbell roundabout from the existing A19 interchange which is required to support this and adjacent developments.

A further new roundabout off the B1317 to the south of the site will also be constructed as part of the first phase of development, which will link Killingworth Moor’s north and south development parcels.