Member Article

New Scotswood homes on show

New show homes at The Rise in Scotswood open at the weekend – offering a glimpse of what life in the new community will be like.

Developers involved in the £265 million public/private joint venture – Barratt Homes and Keepmoat Homes – have each built three houses for viewing.

Already seven plots on the first phase of 377 homes have been reserved since sales launched in mid March. Altogether 80 two, three and four bedroomed, predominantly family properties are now under construction.

The Rise is the biggest housing led redevelopment project in the North East. Over the next 15-18 years it is expected to grow to become a sustainable community of up to 1,800 homes.

The venture is being driven by the New Tyne West Development Company (NTWDC). It comprises Newcastle City Council, Barratt Homes and Keepmoat Homes and has financial backing from the Homes and Communities Agency.

Development Director, Duncan Bowman, said: “It is fascinating to see the first completed homes on a site which has stood empty for more than a decade – just waiting for redevelopment.

“This marks the start of an exciting new chapter for the community in the west end of Newcastle. We are extremely excited about unveiling these homes to the public so they can see first hand the quality of both the new homes and also the area which we are creating.”

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 sales offices which are located off Whitehouse Road, Newcastle, NE15 6EP are open daily from 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 .