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Work starts on first piece of £350 million Gateshead housing developments

Work has started on the first piece of a £350 million project to build 2,400 homes in Gateshead/

Gateshead Regeneration Partnership (GRP) has started work on the site off Mount Pleasant Road having secured planning permission for the first 47 homes.

In total, 193 three, four and five bedroom sustainable homes will be built on this site.

Representatives from GRP, an award-winning partnership comprising Gateshead Council, leading affordable housing provider, Home Group and homebuilding and construction group, Galliford Try, met on site to mark the official groundbreaking.

The regeneration project, which has been hailed as one of the most ambitious housing regeneration projects seen in Gateshead in decades and one of the largest of its kind currently in the UK, aims to transform the amount and quality of housing built across the borough and breathe new life into local communities.

Over the next 15-20 years, 19 sites will be redeveloped to make way for 2,400 homes, 25% of which will be affordable with the remainder being privately owned.

Gateshead Council’s cabinet member for housing, Cllr Catherine Donovan, said: “Today is ground breaking in more than just the literal sense. This is the start of an ambitious and unique venture that will provide high quality homes in communities right across Gateshead. The demand for homes has probably never been higher, which makes this project all the more important.

“We are determined to focus on regeneration and upon providing desirable homes for a wide variety of people, particularly families. This partnership brings together the best elements of public, private and not for profit sectors to deliver real opportunities for Gateshead people.”

The homes will be built to a much higher specification than standard new homes, including much more interior space.

They will also be around 25% more energy efficient compared to standard new build homes, providing real savings on energy bills for residents.

Gateshead Regeneration Partnership development director, Phil Brown, added: “We have worked extensively with local residents to develop a scheme which best meets the housing needs of local people both now and in the future.

“The project as a whole will help to bridge the gap which exists for high quality, sustainable and affordable homes, and we’re looking forward to progressing work on site as quickly as possible.”

Work on a second development comprising 16 new, two and three bedroom homes has also commenced on Avon Street in Deckham, all of which will be let and managed by Gosforth-based Home Group.

The project is receiving support from the Homes and Communities Agency, the national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .