A FAMILY’S dream of securing a permanent home has come true after being handed the keys to their new council house.

Tracy Walmsley and son Tyler have had to move twice in recent years following the sale of their privately rented homes.

But it has proved particularly unsettling for 12-year-old who relies on routine as he has ADHD, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and Autism.

They are now among the latest tenants to move into the newly-built properties in Sherborne Close in the Branksome area of Darlington.

Ms Walmsley, who is also mother to daughter Lauren, 24, and works part-time, said: “Tyler does take a long time to get used to a new place, so when we had to move it’s been really unsettling for him.

“I found out about the sale of our current home back in February and our landlord did try her best to sell it on to someone who would continue to let it, but it didn’t work out.

“We’d been keen to secure a Council property and when we saw these houses being built, Tyler kept asking to go take a look. When we found out we were lucky enough to get one, he was so excited.

“He couldn’t wait to view it and he already knows which room will be his. He keeps asking me ‘We’ve got a house for good now haven’t we mam, it’s our forever home?’ It really is a dream come true for us both.”

Sherborne Close, which is a mix of 12 two-bedroom apartments in two storey blocks and six three-bedroom semi-detached houses, is the latest phase of Darlington Borough Council scheme to build 160 new council homes by the end of the year.

Councillor Andy Scott, the local authority’s cabinet member for housing, said: “We are delighted that Tracy and her son Tyler can look forward to settling in to their new home and hope they will be very happy here for many years to come.

“The Council is making a major investment of housing revenue from rents to build new, good quality council homes, to Lifetime Homes standards, for tenants. Many have already been successfully let but we still have more than 1,670 applicants for housing in Darlington and these new properties will help us meet these needs.”

The council has invested £20.1m of housing revenue funds and also secured £3.2m from the Homes and Communities Agency.