Member Article

Duchess of Northumberland opens new coastal housing development

Not-for-profit housing provider, Four Housing, has completed the development of seven new affordable homes in Alnmouth as part of a £790,020 investment and as part of the organisation’s 2011/2015 Housing Programme.

The houses which consist of seven two-bedroom family homes with gardens and car parking, have been built to address a very real housing need in the area and were officially opened by The Duchess of Northumberland today who welcomed tenants to their new homes.

The properties which have been developed in partnership with Four Housing, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland Estates, Sturton Grange Developments and the Parish Council aim to tackle the shortage of affordable homes for families throughout Northumberland, particularly in rural and coastal areas.

The Duchess of Northumberland commented: “It is welcoming that these homes have been built for local people and will be occupied by families who will join a thriving community. The properties are sensitively designed to reflect the heritage of the area and the environment as well as being energy efficient and are built to last for generations of local families to come.”

Chief Executive of Four Housing, Paul Tanney said: “Working together with our partners, through building more quality, affordable housing means that local people can stay local and remain in the community, contributing to the local economy, attending local schools and staying close to family and friends. Our focus has been to add value to the communities we operate in across the North East and to improve the lives of tenants and residents.

“The homes at Lint Gardens are traditional in style with timber cladding so that they reflect the area and fit within the local environment. The Alnmouth development is one of a number of significant schemes that we are involved with this year and forms part of our 2011/2015 Housing Programme, which will see Four Housing complete a total of 129 new homes in the North East.”

Barry Spall, Development Planner at Northumberland Estates added: “This project has proved to be a fantastic example of partnership working with the Parish Council getting actively involved in a positive way with Northumberland Estates and the developers to deliver the best possible solution for all concerned. Discussions between Northumberland Estates and Alnmouth Parish Council have been ongoing since an initial planning application for the conversion of the old Boys Club in Alnmouth back in 2011. Northumberland Estates took on board their justifiable concerns around additional holiday accommodation in the village and their desire to see affordable housing for local people. Working as a team, together with Four Housing, and Northumberland County Council we have succeeded together in delivering a much improved scheme which meets many needs.

“As a result, Alnmouth now has the hugely popular affordable housing it so desperately needed and wanted, balanced by additional private housing and 12 brand new and much improved allotments, which are already fully let. A win, win, win situation all round,” ends Spall.

“The challenge of providing good quality, affordable homes that help meet the needs of these locations is very real, and something we are keen to help address across the North East. This has been demonstrated by our involvement and commitment to the Homes For Britain campaign,” concludes Tanney.

ENDS -

For more information about Four Housing, visit: http://www.fourhousing.co.uk/

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Narrative Integrated Communications .