North East Combined Authority (NECA) and Homes England have signed a Strategic Place Partnership that aims to support the region to realise its housing ambitions.

The two organisations will work together for the long-term to unlock locally-led plans to create new homes within thriving places for people across the region.

The work will draw on Homes England expertise and resources, including land, legal powers and funding, underpinned by the development of a shared business plan aligned to local priorities.

Funding has already been allocated to support a range of projects including Forth Yards in Newcastle and West Park in Sunderland.

Mayor of the North East Kim McGuinness said: "Everyone in the North East deserves a place they are proud to call home, and that is why I have made housing a key plank of my plans as Mayor. Indeed, this announcement follows closely from the news we have invested £4.5m to support the regeneration of Horden in East Durham.

"Signing the Strategic Place Partnership with Homes England will allow us to take some of our biggest brownfield sites and turn them from eyesores into the homes and communities people need.

"It’s an opportunity to turbocharge development across the region by working with the Agency and our local authorities to create new homes that are affordable, energy efficient, and where people can thrive."

Homes England Chief Executive Peter Denton said: "A strategic place partnership isn’t a ceremonial bit of paper. It signals a long-term commitment where regional and national teams work together for the benefit of communities, to achieve the visions of local leaders who understand what people local to the area want and need to thrive.

"My colleagues and I are excited to deepen our ties with the combined authority to help accelerate progress. We are united by a passion to get things done in the right way, in the right places, to help ensure successful, sustainable regeneration and more affordable, quality home for thousands of people in the North East."