The construction of a major Penrith housing development is now back underway following a pause brought on by the Covid-19 lockdown.

Local housebuilder Story Homes has begun work on its new Carleton Road development, Brougham Fields, which when complete will total 149 homes.

The development will be a mix of two, three, four and five bedroom homes.

Forty four of the homes will be designated as affordable.

Fred Story, chairman and chief executive of Story Homes, said: “The past few months have been challenging for those within the construction industry, and we had only just broken ground at Brougham Fields when the country was placed into lockdown."

He added that the firm is now seeing the "green shoots of recovery."

“Our existing sites are performing well, our subcontractors are delivering and our sales rate is consistent which is why we are able to restart our build programme at Carleton earlier than anticipated, and at a quicker pace than we hoped.

“As a Cumbrian-headquartered business we are committed to giving more people across the county access to high quality homes. This development will not only improve choice across the local housing market but will also provide the much needed kickstart to the local economy that is required following the pandemic – sustaining jobs for subcontractors and supporting local businesses and supply chains.”

The firm is currently in the first phase of site setup, which includes laying down the infrastructure, roads and sewers.

The first homes at the development are set to be released in autumn this year, with the new show home anticipated to be completed in early 2021.

As part of the new development, Story Homes will make a number of contributions to the local community in Penrith, pledging to pay more than £670,000 in education contributions and more than £225,000 in highways improvements and travel plans.