FIRST-TIME buyers Megin Riordan, 21, and her partner Lewis Wood, 23, recently celebrated the purchase of their first property by laying a course of bricks on the plot of land that will soon be turned into their new home.

“Being our first home, we both wanted to show that, in some small way, we were involved in its construction,” said Megin. “When Bellway offered us the opportunity to lay a course of bricks, we jumped at the chance. It’s sort of symbolic.”

Prior to buying at Bellway Homes’ Queensgate development on Yarm Road, Stockton, Megin and Lewis had been living at home with their parents in Ingelby Barwick.

“We’ve known each other since school days and really wanted our own place,” said Megin. “When the government announced the Help to Buy scheme we knew we had reached a turning point. Lewis is a chef in the Royal Navy and was able to take advantage of a Navy scheme that helped towards the deposit, too. Now we’re just looking forward to getting in and making it a home.”

Megin and Lewis bought a threebedroom semi-detached Sandhurst 2 style home from Bellway using the Help to Buy scheme.

Queensgate is home to a range of properties, including three-bedroom semi-detached homes; four-bedroom, three-storey townhouses; and fourbedroom detached and four-bedroom terrace homes. Prices start from £144,995.

For more information about the development visit bellway.co.uk or call the sales centre on 01642 617442. It is open from noon-5pm on Monday, 11am-8pm on Thursday, 11am-5.30pm from Friday to Sunday and is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.