Newcastle sheltered housing project set for go-ahead

Building work will begin in October on a £300m sheltered housing project after it was ratified by North Tyneside Council.

During a meeting of the Council’s Cabinet, it was agreed to finalise the contract to allow preferred bidder Solutions 4 North Tyneside to deliver the project for the authority.

It also agreed the timescale for achieving financial close - when the finance can be raised - so that building work can begin on the ground from October.

This will mark the start of a nearly three year building project that will deliver 922 sheltered homes for the borough’s older residents in 16 refurbishment schemes (572 units) and ten new build schemes (350 units).

It is a major step for the current tenants, many of whom have been involved in the project since it was first mooted in 2006.

Elected mayor, Norma Redfearn said: “This is another hurdle overcome and a further sign for the tenants who have waited very patiently for seven years that this project is definitely going to happen, and they will see work beginning before the end of the year.

“The Quality Homes scheme is about doing just that - delivering good quality, fit for purpose housing which is designed so it meets the long-term health and wellbeing needs of tenants. It will make a tremendous difference for the older people of North Tyneside”

“Now we all have to work together to deliver this state of the art sheltered housing as smoothly as possible. “

Solutions 4 North Tyneside will be awarded a 28-year contract that will see them oversee not only the build and refurbishment of the sheltered housing, but also ongoing facilities management of the property.

When completed the schemes will contain a total of 686 one-bedroom and 236 two-bedroomed apartments for rent. All the housing will fitted out with state of the art kitchens and wet rooms. Tenants will also have the use of spacious communal areas including comfortable lounges and landscaped gardens.

North Tyneside Council will retain responsibility for housing management of the properties and will also provide the team of Sheltered Housing Officers - now increased by eight extra staff - to provide a morning call, tenancy management, housing advice and support.

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Northumbria University is enabling the council to benefit from additional expertise that has both influenced the design of the properties to deliver flexible accommodation that can adapt to changing health and wellbeing needs and to rethink the overall sheltered housing service to meet current needs.

Councillor John Harrison, cabinet member for Housing and the Environment, who initiated the project as elected mayor said: “I am delighted that this project is now definitely going forward.

“Our priority now is to continue to work closely with our tenants and our partners to ensure that this work gets underway with the minimum of disruption for the tenants, who I know are so looking forward to eventually getting into their new homes.”

Project director David Taylor, for Solutions for North Tyneside said “Solutions 4 North Tyneside are delighted to have been selected to assist the council in the delivery of modern, high quality homes for older people in North Tyneside”.

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