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Work is set to get underway on two Council house developments in South Tyneside.

A total of 29 homes will be built across the two schemes, all of which are for social rent.

In Reynolds Avenue, South Shields, 17 ultra energy-efficient houses will be the first in the borough designed, built and certified to the international 'Passivhaus Standard', helping to slash energy use and minimise carbon emissions.

Passivhaus buildings are so well constructed, insulated and ventilated that they retain heat and maintain an almost constant temperature, requiring very little additional heating or cooling.

Councillor Tracey Dixon, Leader of Â鶹ÊÓƵ, said: "We are really proud not only to be building Council houses in the borough, but to be building them to such a high environmental standard.

"The innovative methods used to construct these kinds of properties reduce their carbon footprint, futureproofing them and helping us to tackle fuel poverty.

"These low energy homes are good news for tenants as they are very economical to heat so they will benefit from reduced fuel bills.

"These homes are all for social rent and will help address the borough's housing needs, and deliver on our ambition of creating strong communities where people live in sustainable, safe and connected neighbourhoods."

The two, three and four-bedroomed homes, designed by JDDK Architects, will be built in three terraces to reduce heat loss, and will all be south-facing to take advantage of solar energy.

They will have high levels of insulation, high performance triple-glazed windows with external shading to avoid overheating, and excellent airtightness.

A mechanical ventilation system with highly efficient heat recovery (MVHR) and air source heat pumps will be used.

A further 12 homes will be built at Lizard Lane, Marsden, on the former site of a four-storey block of flats and shops demolished in early 2022, as it was outdated and no longer fit for purpose.

The development of two- and three-bedroomed apartments will be A rated for energy consumption and will use energy efficiency measures including solar panels, thermal store and battery storage. They will all have electric vehicle charging points, parking and a back garden.

Councillor Jim Foreman, Lead Member for Housing and Community Safety, said; "This development will provide much-needed homes in a very popular location for social rent.

"It will also be bringing previously-developed land back into use, in line with our brownfield first policy.

"We're proactive about delivering good quality modern homes, because housing is about much more than just bricks and mortar.

The schemes received a total of almost £2.79m in grant funding provided by Homes England through the Affordable Homes Programme.