Member Article

Work begins on £3.7m Benwell and Byker housing developments

Building work has started on two housing development schemes in Benwell and Byker, costing £3.7m, which will assist people with learning disabilities in Newcastle to live independently.

The new homes, which will be owned by social landlord Isos Housing, are part of Newcastle City Council’s Housing Partnership Framework to provide affordable supported housing.

The £3m River View development will include a two and three storey block of 15 apartments, with 14 terraced and semi-detached two and three bedroom family homes.

Meanwhile, the £700k Birch View development in Byker is for five detached bungalows designed for residents with autism and other learning disabilities with a further staff bungalow close by. All bungalows will be fully wheelchair accessible.

Both the schemes are being developed by Galliford Try Partnerships North. Managing Director Stephen McCoy said: “Improving the quality and choice of homes for people across the region is one of our core aims. Providing purpose built, affordable homes, for those in greatest need, fits extremely well with that goal and we are delighted to have been selected to deliver these properties.”

Design features at the new builds will include wheelchair access, wet rooms, communal areas, fully accessible gardens and exercise areas, which encourage residents to stay active and allow them to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.

Isos has a long history of providing specialist supported accommodation for people with a variety of special needs across the North East, including people with disabilities, mental health problems, victims of domestic abuse victims, vulnerable young people and those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.

The company was chosen to deliver the new homes by Newcastle City Council, which identified the sites as part of its commitment to providing more affordable supported housing for adults with learning disabilities within the city.

Vince Walsh, development and regeneration manager for Isos Housing, said: “These are two really exciting developments which will provide state-of-the-art homes, allowing those with special housing needs to live independently while at the same time safe in the knowledge help is on hand if needed.

“There is a real demand for these types of properties and we are very pleased to be working with Newcastle City Council to provide this much needed accommodation in the city.”

Cllr Jane Streather, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Housing said: “I am delighted that through our Housing Partnership Framework we are able to use council-owned land to deliver specialist housing for those with care needs.

“These innovative new developments in Benwell and Byker will provide specialist facilities that will allow those with care needs to live independently, providing a wide range of choices to suit their individual needs. Our framework allows us to deliver on our commitment to create more inclusive and balanced communities.”

Both developments were designed by Newcastle-based architects, Jane Darbyshire & David Kendall (JDDK) Ltd, using design principles proven to be beneficial to residents with learning disabilities.

The River View apartments will feature extensive garden and allotment areas, including raised planting beds to allow residents to take part in gardening activities.

In addition the development will offer a ‘Concierge Plus’ service, providing on-site 24-hour emergency support, monitoring visitors within the building and helping residents access local community facilities and transport.

Mura Mullan, JDDK Director and project architect, said: “The two schemes, whilst offering very different responses to the respective briefs and locational challenges, do share common design principles which are universally recognised as beneficial to residents.

“The buildings create strong links between interior and exterior spaces which encourage residents to come out of the potential isolation of their apartments with the exterior communal spaces, in particular, promoting social interaction. The schemes both offer bright airy interiors with plenty of daylight and great external views and both the apartments and bungalows are flexible in design to accommodate different and changing needs and are all fully wheelchair accessible.”

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