Now that foundations have been put in place and roads have been completed at the site of the now-demolished Horden Big Club, the first bricks have been laid on the first starter home at the development.

The work is being carried out by North-East property specialist Holystone.

It is hoped that by February next year all 21 starter homes will be complete and the first residents are scheduled to move in during July.

Mike Savage, technical director of Holystone, said: "All the demolition of the club is finished, the site has been cleared and we have got all the foundations and fittings in.

"We have started the superstructures, which are the foundations and floors on the first few buildings and we have also completed the roads and the sewers.

"We are very happy with the work is going and this is an exciting time for the area."
Mr Savage said the first occupants on the site were expected to be moving in during July.

"The first house will be handed over at the beginning of July.

The finished development will consist of 21 two and three-bedroom terraced and semi-detached homes, with the two-bedroom properties aimed at first-time buyers.

The houses are rising from the rubble of the troubled Big Club, where time was called on the pub in June last year after locals witnessed under-age drinking, late-night fights and revellers urinating against their homes.

John Barnett, chairman of the Horden Colliery Residents' Association, (formerly the Seventh Street Residents Association), worked alongside Sergeant Tim Robson, a licensing officer with Durham Police, and put together a report to help get the club closed.

Mr Barnett today welcomed the work's progress adding: "We helped to get the club demolished. Seventeen residents worked on the report.
"I'm very pleased with the progress. It's real regeneration, this is."