Designed by Four Housing Group, the Reed Street scheme in Rekendyke will create 21 carbon-negative homes for rent.

The timber-framed homes will be capable of generating enough clean electricity for all of the dwellings, with the surplus electricity exported to the National Grid.

The project’s design has evolved over a three-year period, based on the initial carbon negative concept developed by urban renewal specialist Groundwork.

Homes will be oriented to ensure that south-facing windows and solar panels catch as much sunlight as possible.

Meanwhile, the north-facing aspects of each property will be linked to the next property, providing a further barrier against heat loss.

The new housing, which will be available for rent through Four Housing Group, will be among the first developments nationwide to reach Level 6 – the highest available score – on the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes.

Lynda Peacock, Four Housing Group’s director of development and regeneration, said: “Four Housing and its consultants have worked hard on how to not just reduce the carbon footprint but improve the economic use of heat, waste and water to both lower fuel bills and costs and cut carbon.

“The scheme will also be assessed and the systems evaluated over a period of time to help future development and research, which will be carried out by a local university.”

The Reed Street scheme is one of a number of housing and regeneration projects supported by the Homes and Communities Agency in South Tyneside.

Others include the regeneration of Cleadon Park, where the HCA is helping Isos Housing Group to create over 700 homes, the development of new homes for older people at Rackly Way in Whitburn.