The decision follows the successful completion of legal and funding agreements with the Homes and Communities Agency and Stockton Borough Council.
Northshore is a £300m, 23-hectare mixed use development which will transform Stockton’s Riverside by delivering over 1.8m sq ft of office, leisure and retail accommodation within walking distance of the town centre.
It is the brainchild of the Northshore Development Partnership, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lovell sister company Muse Developments.
“The start on site of a first phase at Northshore is a major step forward,” said Simon Dew, senior development surveyor for Muse Developments.
“This scheme will set a benchmark for high-quality housing in the North East and act as a catalyst for further development within the Northshore regeneration area.”
“The HCA has already invested over £20 million on preparing the site for development, and the start of work on the first new homes will help to unlock the area’s potential,” said Chris Munro, area manager at the HCA, which is providing £3m in funding for the scheme.
Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Councillor Bob Cook said: “It is fantastic to see our vision for regeneration progress despite the challenging economic climate.
The Northshore development is just one element of the wider regeneration of Stockton Borough which is already seeing significant investment on the riverside including the £4.6m Tees Barrage whitewater course and the Wolfsan Institute at Durham University Queens Campus.
“We hope this new development will encourage people to relocate to Stockton Borough and we are committed to ensuring all residents enjoy good quality housing in safe, well designed neighbourhoods – this scheme is helping us achieve that.”