Only 6% of new developments across the North were rated as good in the The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (Cabe) study.

Their report described the 141-home estate at Villa Real in Consett, as a "truly awful development".

The builder Persimmon described it as much-needed affordable housing.

The estate, which scored the lowest in an audit of 93 new housing developments in the North, was criticised for its "identikit" appearance, its small garages and poor parking provision.

Cabe has hit out at the majority of new homes being built as failing to measure up on design quality.

Developments completed between 2002 and January 2005 were examined for their character, roads, parking and pedestrianisation, construction environment and community.

Architectural quality

The study said recurrent problems include poorly defined streets and public space, illogical site layouts and the failure to create a distinct sense of place.

A spokesman said the overall standard of the vast majority of the schemes fell substantially below what was needed to realise the aims of government plans for sustainable communities.

Of the Villa Real development of detached and semi-detached homes, Cabe said there was "a complete failure to create a sense of character and identity, consisting of identikit houses with no architectural quality and no reference to the local vernacular."

Peter Jordan, regional projects director for Persimmon, said: "The type of housing that was built in Consett at that time in a very price-sensitive marked has done exactly what it says on the tin.

"People wanted houses with gardens and parking and garages, and that's what they've got. It has kept people in the town."

Cabe called for house builders and local planning authorities to work closer for the benefit of home buyers.