Member Article

Partnership starts work on new Rowlands Gill homes

Work is underway on a development of 23 new homes in Rowlands Gill.

The three and four bedroomed properties, at Gibside Chase, are being delivered by Gateshead Regeneration Partnership (GRP) on land formerly occupied by an Infant School, just off Sherburn Park Drive.

The first homes are expected to be completed in the autumn and will be constructed by build partner, Vistry Partnerships. A commitment has been made to use both local contractors and suppliers on the project – as well as to create employment and skills training opportunities for local people.

Nine of the homes will be of three-storey split level design, which will maximise views over the Gibside Estate and allow family living spaces to spill out into the generous back gardens. The rest of Gibside Chase will be traditional semi detached homes – but every house will benefit from higher space standards and energy efficiency and greater environmental performance than the average new build home.

Christine Curran, Development Director for GRP, said: “The site has been vacant for a decade, so we are really pleased to be able to bring it back into a positive use. We are delighted to get started on these new homes which will increase both availability and choice for people in Rowlands Gill and the west of the borough. We have already received a number of enquiries from potential buyers.”

Councillor John Adams, the Lead Cabinet Member for Housing at Gateshead Council, said, “We need to increase the supply of good quality homes in Gateshead, which is why the council has insisted on bigger rooms and higher levels of energy efficiency than most in the private sector. I’m pleased to see another GRP site get started and look forward to more coming forward, right across the borough, over the next year.”

GRP comprises Gateshead Council, construction and regeneration specialist Vistry Partnerships and North East based Home Group, one of the UK’s largest housing associations. Construction of the partnership’s first phase of 361 new homes will be completed in the summer. Work on the second phase of regeneration got underway at Kelvin Grove, in Saltwell, last July and another new project, at Windy Nook, is expected to begin soon.

When this second phase is completed in 2022, GRP will have developed 475 properties to Lifetime Homes standards - meaning they are suitable for all, including those of restricted mobility and can be adapted as people’s needs change.

Around 25% of these homes are for shared ownership or affordable rent. Properties for sale are marketed and sold by Linden Homes. The partnership has plans to deliver approximately 2,000 further new homes over the next 15 years.

Sean Egan, Managing Director with Vistry Partnerships in the North East, said: “The regeneration programme has proved extremely popular with local people, with the majority of residents moving only a few miles into their new homes. It has also achieved national acclaim, with the Trilogy I development, at Saltwell, being named Best Regeneration Project at the Inside Housing Awards in 2018. We are confident these latest developments will be equally well received.

“In addition, the partnership is creating work and training opportunities for local people. To date around 17 people have gained employment, 19 apprentices have been engaged, 16 work experience roles have been filled and there have been almost 400 attendees on vocational training courses. This investment in the local workforce will continue as phase two of the regeneration programme progresses.”

Simon Williams, Head of Delivery for Home Group, added: “Partnership working is so important if we are going to tackle the housing shortage that is affecting not only the North East, but the whole of the country. The Gateshead Regeneration Partnership is a fantastic example of what can be achieved in collaboration with committed partners.

“We are excited about Gibside Chase, as we are about the developments we’ll be working on within GRP in the future.”

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