Member Article

3,000 affordable homes planned for North Tyneside

Ambitious plans to provide 3,000 extra affordable homes in the borough over the next ten years have been revealed by North Tyneside Council’s Cabinet.

A meeting on Monday (October 14) gave the green light to an innovative scheme that will use the Council’s trading company to tackle a problem that worsens each year as an average 479 additional affordable homes are needed annually.

The project will not only aim to deliver new council housing, but will also work with the Homes and Communities Agency, developers and other registered housing providers to help reduce the housing waiting list, and support the borough’s economic growth with a range of affordable housing options.

The three-phase plan will include allocating council land for building of affordable housing, as well as converting existing commercial and retail buildings, and linking with partners on a range of new build schemes, including housing for older people and those with dementia.

It will also operate alongside the Councils Quality Homes for Older People £300m sheltered housing partnership project, involving Solutions 4 North Tyneside is a consortium of three companies – Equitix, Miller, and Keepmoat. It will deliver over 900 apartments across 10 new and 16 refurbished sheltered housing schemes.

Coun John Harrison, Cabinet member for Housing and the Environment said: “Residents of North Tyneside have told me that affordable housing has to be a top priority for the Council.

“Homes need to meet local needs. Therefore, we have to be innovative in how we deliver a solution that delivers a broad level of affordable homes that are accessible for people with different needs.”

The first phase of the project will deliver between 70-80 affordable homes, costing in the region of £8.2m, with the majority let by the end of 2015.

The mixed approach with continue the programme of new build housing using existing assets, such as the development of 12 properties in Swan Close, Wallsend that is currently underway and a further development of 9 new bungalows at Byrness Court which is due to start next month.

The sites of the current Wallsend Library and the former Brig House public house in Blandford Road, West Chirton could also be designated for affordable housing building schemes.

And once redundant the current sheltered housing sites at Chapelville, Dudley and along with Bude Court, Battle Hill which has already been demolished will make way for housing.

The second phase of the programme will help bring sites back into use, contributing towards regeneration schemes and tackling redundant potential eyesore sites, providing 40 additional affordable homes.

This will include conversion of: the former temporary accommodation for homeless people at Alexandra Street, Wallsend; redundant retail units at Bedford Street, Wallsend, the former Coast Road Library, Bank Top Cottages in Cullercoats, Kelso Gardens Recreation Room in Howdon, Wright Drive Recreation Room, Dudley and the former customer service office at Victoria Terrace, Whitley Bay.

The final phase will comprise the majority of the housing programme and will deliver a mix including new build affordable homes and the conversion of commercial and retail premises in town centre and other locations to regenerate the areas and promote sustainability in town centres.

Some of the land needed for this medium and longer term programme will be freed up as the council reviews its existing office and depot accommodation, which is anticipated will free up further building sites.

This will include examining whether there is potential to accelerate plans for the delivery of affordable housing on the council-owned in various locations across the Borough. The aim is to use a range of delivery mechanisms including the North Tyneside Trading Company as a developer and enter into agreements with the Council, seek investors and funding.

“The intention is to act now to create capacity and capability to fill the affordable housing gap,” said Councillor Harrison.

“That’s why we are joining forces with a range of partners, working through our trading company, and being innovative in our approach to deliver the housing our residents urgently need.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by North Tyneside Council .