A housebuilder has revealed the name that will be given to a new 40-home estate to be built in Whitehaven.

Gleeson Homes was given the green light for a housing development next to the former Marchon chemical plant, off High Road at Kells, earlier this year.

The developer has now revealed that the estate is to be known as Saltom Bay Heights.

It will offer “high quality, low cost” two, three and four bedroom semi-detached and detached homes, as well as a number of two-bedroom bungalows, “creating a desirable place for local people to live”.

House prices on the development are expected to start from under £120,000 for a two-bedroom home, as part of an affordable housing scheme for local people. Gleeson expects the homes to be “highly attractive” to first-time buyers and young families in the area.

Construction at Saltom Bay Heights is due to start in late Summer 2022, and will be carried out in one phase which is expected to last until summer 2024.

The first homes are anticipated to be released for sale in Autumn 2022, with the first homeowners expected to move into their homes in Spring 2023.

The development’s two show homes, including a “Moy”, a two-bedroom detached bungalow that will also double up as the site’s sales centre, and a three-bedroom detached “Ennis” home, are also due to launch in Spring 2023.

Two affordable homes will be provided on-site as a part of a discount market value scheme.

Gleeson will also create a timber trail on the development for children to enjoy and a footpath link will provide residents with easy access on foot to Whitehaven town centre, and encourage locals to take advantage of picturesque coastal walks along the St Bees Heritage Coast, which runs alongside the development.

Kirk Thompson, operations director for Gleeson Cumbria, said: “We are thrilled to have secured this development, demonstrating our commitment to building affordable, quality homes throughout Cumbria.

“The site is located on the western edge of Whitehaven with fantastic views over the Irish Sea. We believe there will be very strong demand for these homes and this site will complement our other site in Whitehaven, Ivy Mills, which is located on the eastern side of the town.

“We will be employing an on-site workforce that will predominantly consist of local labour and contractors, and we would like to hear from qualified construction personnel and quality contractors who are interested in being part of this exciting new scheme.”