Story Homes expansion continues with HCA/Riverside win

Carlisle-based Story Homes has followed up its acquisition of the Camelot theme park in Lancashire and its appointment as preferred developer on a major waterfront scheme in Barrow by being appointed by the Homes & Communities Agency to build 279 homes in County Durham at a former hospital site near Consett.

Story Homes, a division of the Story Group set up by Fred Story 20 years ago and still run by him, will work with Liverpool-based social landlord Riverside on the 12ha development, which has been granted outline planning permission.

Story acquired the Camelot theme park in March after it went into receivership. The site is likely to be redeveloped for residential use eventually. Last autumn, Story surprised the market by beating national heavyweights to land the £120m Waterfront mixed-use scheme in Barrow, where 650 residential units are planned.