Member Article

Multi-million development provides affordable homes in Hexham

A new multi-million pound Hexham housing development is welcoming its first residents, delivering much-needed affordable homes for local people.

Two Castles Housing Association, working alongside Esh Property Services under the Hadrian Development Solutions Partnership, has completed 26 affordable homes in the new £3.4 million Anick View development.

The new homes, situated on Corbridge Road, on the eastern side of Hexham, comprise seven two-bedroom houses, six two-bedroom bungalows, nine three-bedroom houses and four one-bedroom flats, all of which have been let to local people with an existing connection to the town and its surrounding area.

According to a report by Northumberland County Council, there are around 4,200 people assessed as having some form of housing need in the county and 382 new affordable homes are needed every year to 2018 to adequately address this backlog, meaning developments such as Anick View are vital.

Rob Brittain, property services director at Two Castles Housing Association, said: “We’re pleased to see all of our homes in Anick View ready for their first residents. The combination of high private rental costs and above average levels of second home ownership means there is a real shortage of affordable homes in Hexham and across Northumberland. Our new homes will go some way to addressing this shortfall.

“Two Castles is committed to building sustainable communities and our high quality, affordable homes across Northumberland are vital to helping local families remain in their community and ensuring the sustainability of rural life.

“Looking ahead, we will continue to work closely with our partners to deliver well-designed affordable homes in the communities that need it most.”

The new Hexham homes were part-funded by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) with an investment of £349,000 and with support from Northumberland County Council.

Councillor Allan Hepple, cabinet member responsible for housing at Northumberland County Council, said: “It is good to see these high quality new homes becoming ready for their new residents – and I hope people will enjoy living there. The council has been pleased to support the development of Anick View, with more affordable housing for those in need an important priority.”

Built using reconstituted stone, render and concrete tiles, the new development has been designed to be in keeping with the local area. Each new home is constructed to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 Standards and includes a number of energy-efficient features such as efficient boilers and insulation, as well as photovoltaic roof panels.

In addition, the homes’ interiors are complete with the latest energy control systems, which will aid residents to monitor their energy use and keep their bills affordable, especially important at a time when keeping homes warm is a real issue for many families in the North East.

Graham Morgan, Divisional Director, Esh Property Services, said: “As specialists in creating affordable homes, we recognise that sometimes residents can take a little while to get used to the new technology which has been fitted into their homes. So, through our customer service teams, we have arranged a series of workshops and home visits which are helping residents get to grips with the new energy controls. We’ve had great feedback - residents tell us that these sessions are really helpful.

“In addition, two homes have been fitted with a comprehensive monitoring system to follow the effectiveness of the new energy saving measures as part of day to day family living. We are looking forward to working with the families to help them maximise the energy – and consequently financial – savings that they are able to achieve.”

Work is also due to begin on 16 new affordable Two Castles’ homes in Stocksfield. Two Castles will again be working alongside Esh Property Services, delivering a mixture of 13 high-quality two and three bedroom homes and bungalows available for shared ownership and rent.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Castles & Coasts .