Member Article

Work begins on £2.2m Kenton affordable home scheme drawing on area's monastic roots

The Bernicia Group has broke ground on its 17-home affordable housing site at Brigham Avenue in Kenton in a high-profile development that consciously draws on the sites historic roots.

Working in conjunction with Newcastle City Council, the developer has invested £2.2m in the scheme through its Four Housing affordable homes subsidiary, which will see the construction a mixture of two and three bedroom homes and two bedroom apartments.

Deputy Chief Executive at Bernicia, John Johnston said: “We are delighted to further our work with Newcastle City Council, delivering more quality affordable homes in areas of high demand for the City.

“The impressive design for the Brigham Avenue development, really complements the surrounding area reflecting the site’s historic past.”

Gateshead architects’ practice Halsall Lloyd worked on the design for the site, which sits close to the Town Moor, taking inspiration from the site’s historic links to the Nunnery of St Bartholomew with courtyards aping the feel of monastic cloisters.

Councillor Jane Streather, Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Health at Newcastle City Council, said that the new development was part of the council’s ‘ambitious plans’ to increase affordable housing provision in Newcastle.

She added: “We are pleased to be working with Bernicia and Halsall Lloyd LLP who are helping us to do this with high modern standards.

“This new small scale development will retain some of the historical features of the surrounding area and will provide much-needed quality housing to meet some of the housing need in the city.”

The Kenton scheme is due to be completed by Spring 2017 and has received support funding from the Homes and Communities Agency.