Garden village status has been granted by the government to a 1,500-home scheme set to be built near Seaham in east Durham.

Planning has already been given to the South Seaham Garden Village, which will be built by a partnership between Durham county council, Tyneside-based contractor Tolent and Home Group, the Newcastle-based housing association that manages 55,000 social housing properties across England, Scotland and Wales.

Half the homes will be affordable. Tolent is set to build around 1,000 units, with 750 of these being a mix of starter homes and homes for older residents, plus assisted living and dependent care facilities.