Decade of development

The development has seen the creation of four retail units.

A North East developer is celebrating a decade of housing-led regeneration which has transformed a former steel working area.

Over the past 10 years, developer Amethyst Homes has delivered over 400 mixed tenure properties at its Regents Park development, in Consett – as well as new community resources and facilities.

The diverse housing mix includes two, three and four bedroomed homes. There is also a selection of bungalows – 30 of which were built for Durham Aged Miners Housing Association and a further 30 which were marketed for discount market sale

October 2015 saw the completion of the first phase of homes at Regents Park. Of the 400 homes delivered to date, 66% of buyers have been from within a three-mile radius of the development. In addition, over a quarter of sales have been to First Time Buyers (FTBs).

Testament to the scheme’s success, the development was named ‘Development of the Year’ 2023 (for developments of 101 plus plots) by Premier Guarantee, in recognition of the site management team consistently delivering quality workmanship.

Amethyst Homes contribution to the wider regeneration plan for the area includes the construction of four retail units at the heart of the community. These are occupied by Billet Mill Convenience Store, Sweet Things Café, Social Butterflies (a purpose-built play café for children aged 0-6 years) and Velo Electric, an electric bike retailer. These facilities provide a benefit not only to the residents of Regents Park, but also to the wider community.

As part of the wider development, over 20 allotments have been created, which are rented to local people. These have proved extremely popular and provided a new social community. The development was designed to incorporate numerous areas of landscaping linked by numerous footpaths and the addition of public art sculptures, namely The Sword, which is located in the heart of the development.

More widely, improvements have been made to the Coast-to-Coast cycle route (C2C), a popular cycleway that crosses England - with riders typically starting in either Whitehaven or Workington (in the west) and ending their journey in either Sunderland or Tynemouth (in the east).

The developer has also supported and sponsored Consett Rugby Club (RFC) since 2015, with its stadium bearing Amethyst’s name. Financial support has totalled more than £50,000 with the money used to support the running of the club – which proved a vital lifeline during the Covid period when the club was forced to close. In addition, Amethyst contributed to the club’s centenary celebrations last year.

Richard Bass, Managing Director at Amethyst Homes, said: “Looking back it is inspiring to see what the Amethyst team has achieved over the past 10 years at Regents Park. The provision of affordable, quality housing has been pivotal in widening housing choice for locals and those moving to the area.

“It’s hard to believe that this land was once home to the Consett Steel Works, which closed in 1980, with the loss of between 3,000 to 4,000 jobs.

“Consett has been transformed, with significant investment in retail, leisure, and community facilities. We are pleased to have played a part in this change, through the provision of jobs, training and educational opportunities and putting money in the local supply chain - boosting micro economies wherever possible and even creating opportunities for new start up business

“We are also delighted to be able to create spaces that local people are using and enjoying and to contribute to local infrastructures like the C2C. it feels like we can truly say that we have delivered a new thriving new community at Regents Park.”

Established in 2013, Amethyst Homes has built its business around its customers - with a strong emphasis on providing quality, sustainable homes in the communities in which people choose to live and work. To date it has built over 590 properties in the Northeast.

Currently delivering projects in Consett, southeast Northumberland and in Newcastle, Amethyst specialises in a wide range of housing, including starter homes, family homes, affordable housing, and executive bungalows.

Work is soon to begin at Amethyst’s latest development at Guide Post, in Northumberland, which will deliver 59 new homes as part of a wider development of 100 new properties.

In addition to its home building successes, since the beginning of 2022, Amethyst has trained two apprentices and invested over £3m into local jobs and training opportunities within the supply chain.

The company has maintained its 5-star customer satisfaction rating from the Home Builders Federation (awarded in 2024 and 2025) and was awarded Gold for the last three consecutive years by independent research company, In-House Research, with over 90% of customers surveyed stating that they would recommend Amethyst Homes to friends and family.

For more information and the range of properties available, please visit: www.amethysthomes.co.uk