Member Article

New homes end a decade of waiting

New homes at The Rise in Scotswood go on sale this weekend (Saturday March 15th), bringing an end to a decade long wait for the redevelopment of this riverside site.

Part of the biggest housing led redevelopment project in the North East, the properties are the first of 377 being constructed in the initial phase of what will eventually grow to become a sustainable community of up to 1,800 homes.

Set on the banks of the River Tyne, the 66 hectare site is bordered by Armstrong Road to the north, Whitehouse Road to the south, Atkinson Road to the east and Roberts Street/Muswell Hill to the west.

Development plans include a neighbourhood centre, retail and commercial space, parks and public areas. The development will be criss-crossed by green corridors, linking it to the existing neighbourhoods. The homes will benefit from tiered gardens in order to make the best possible use of the naturally sloping site.

This eco-friendly community will have heating and hot water supplied from a local energy centre which will be operated by E.ON, providing a cost effective supply.

The energy centre will ensure carbon emissions for a development of this size will be reduced by around 35% - a figure which would rise once plans to upgrade it to an electricity generating site are actioned.

The £265 million venture is being driven by a public private partnership known as the New Tyne West Development Company (NTWDC). It comprises Newcastle City Council, Barratt Homes and Keepmoat Homes. Financial backing has also come from the Homes and Communities Agency.

Development Director, Duncan Bowman, said: “The completion of the first homes finally puts an end to the wait for redevelopment and marks the start of an exciting new chapter for the community in the west end of Newcastle.

“It is a hugely significant milestone for this project and yet it is only the beginning of what we eventually hope to achieve here. The properties represent tremendous value. We are extremely excited about unveiling this project to the public so they can see first hand the quality of both the new homes and the area we are creating.”

Local Councillor Hazel Stephenson said: “This is a great day for our local community which will soon see the economic and social benefits which will flow from this exciting development.”

Among the first houses completed are six show homes which are due to open in the next few weeks, providing an insight into the style, type and quality of the two, three and four bedroomed, predominantly family properties which will be developed.

Altogether 80 homes are now under various stages of construction.

To extend the benefit of the regeneration to the wider Tyneside community, seven apprentices have been taken on to work by the partnership and an eighth engaged at the local Community Café – also funded by the partnership - helping to service the increased trade generated by the on site teams.

Newcastle Futures has also held workshops to encourage and assist local businesses to bid to be part of the supply chain.

Prices of the homes at The Rise start from £89,950 and the government backed Help to Buy assisted purchase scheme is available on all the plots being released on March 15th. Full details of the terms and conditions of this option are available on request.

The sales offices which are located off Whitehouse Road, Newcastle, NE15 6EP will open this weekend 10am till 5.00pm. Alternatively information can be found at www.barratthomes.co.uk or www.keepmoat.com.

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