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The Ida Homes brand was unveiled last week, with those behind it pledging to bring characterful, high-quality homes to locations across Northumberland.

The development in Morpeth, to be known as King Edward’s Place, is located on land in Cottingwood Lane that previously belonged to the nearby King Edward VI School.

There will be seven two-bedroom apartments and 11 three-bedroom apartments. Each home will have its own private outdoor space and use of the expansive landscaped gardens.

A computer-generated image of the apartments being built by Ida Homes at King Edward’s Place in Morpeth.

Charlie Maling-Dunn, who co-founded Ida Homes along with Tom Bell and Jerry Ellis, said: “Breaking ground in Morpeth is a significant event as it marks the true beginning of Ida Homes.

“These apartments will have genuine architectural merit, reflecting features from buildings along Cottingwood Lane and in elsewhere in the town.

“They will be generously sized, at around 1,500sq ft for a three-bedroom home, and will be finished to a standard that is befitting of the design and location.”

When planning consent was granted for the development two years ago to a housing company that is now dissolved, the quality of the design – by JDDK Architects in Newcastle – was praised by local authority planners.

The Ida Homes team on site at King Edward’s Place in Morpeth. From left, directors Charlie Maling-Dunn and Tom Bell, construction manager Ross Stoddart, commercial manager Joe Wrangham and director Jerry Ellis.

However, there were dozens of objections from residents living nearby at the time. Their concerns included the scale and massing of the development, and many of them said it would have an adverse impact on road safety in the area.

In terms of the demand for these apartments, which are due to be completed towards the end of 2023, Charlie said: “Even before we put a sign up, we were receiving feedback from our estate agents, Bradley Hall, that news of this development has spread and interest is high.

“The quality design, paired with the fact that Cottingwood Lane is centrally located in the town with all the amenities people need just a short walk away, makes this development the perfect example of the Ida Homes ethos and values.”

The first set of homes will be released for sale in the spring through Bradley Hall’s Morpeth office.

Ida Homes has also applied for permission to build 37 homes on the outskirts of Belford, near Sunnyhills in South Road.

Ida Homes breaks ground on new development in Morpeth