Member Article

New partner for Scotswood venture

The affordable homes provider on the ambitious Scotswood redevelopment project has been officially signed up.

Tees Valley Housing, part of Fabrick Housing Group, will own and manage 58 of the 278 new homes being built during the first phase of the £265 million Scotswood redevelopment programme.

Although unexpected ground conditions and the wettest year in over a century have delayed the preparation of the site, construction of the first new homes is due to begin this summer.

After signing up to be part of the North East’s biggest housing led redevelopment project, Tees Valley Housing Managing Director Doug Ross said: “We are delighted to be part of this fantastic initiative which will radically improve the housing offer on Tyneside.

“However this is about much more than providing affordable homes. It is about creating a new community with a rich mixture of backgrounds and skills in a striking and sustainable environment.”

Tees Valley Housing’s involvement in Scotswood will be part funded through the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) four-year Affordable Homes Programme.

Driving the ambitious plan to transform the west end of Newcastle is the New Tyne West Development Company (NTWDC) – a partnership between Newcastle City Council and developers Barratt, Keepmoat and Yuill. The public and private partners will share both risk and reward - investing an equal amount of money into the joint venture.

Over the next two decades, 1,800 homes will be constructed along the banks of the Tyne – around a quarter of which will be for rent or shared ownership. As well as high quality, eco-friendly family homes the project will include neighbourhood and commercial facilities, parks and public open spaces.

Development Director, Duncan Bowman, said: “It is great to have Tees Valley Housing on board. Its track record of providing high quality rented and shared ownership homes across the region means we have added another extremely competent partner to the team.”

Local councillor Hazel Stephenson, added: “This is great news for the community. I have always believed that Scotswood needs a mixed tenure of homes both affordable and of shared ownership in the new development.

“Alongside local residents I visited communities and we saw many examples of Tees Valley Housing. We found this most impressive and are all excited for the future. We are delighted to see this progress at last.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .