£4m Northumberland development designed “for local people” welcomes first residents

A £4m development of affordable homes has been officially opened in Northumberland. The 27 new homes at Adlam Court, Blyth, have been developed “specifically for local people”.

The Castles & Coasts Housing Association (CCHA) project, in the Newsham area of the town, consists of eight bungalows, six three-bed houses and 13 two-bed houses, which are all now let at an affordable rent.

Homes England helped fund the near-£4m project, with construction work carried out by Imperator Developments. The scheme was delivered on time and within budget, despite the challenges presented by Covid-19 and material shortages, which affected all parts of the construction sector during the build period.

Work started on the scheme in February 2021, and has transformed an area of abandoned land, turning it into a small modern community of “much-needed” homes for local families and older people.

Rob Brittain, CCHA’s property services director, commented: “This exciting, high quality new development is exactly what is required to ensure people who have been brought up in Blyth and have raised families here can still afford to live in this beautiful coastal community.

“100 per cent of the homes are offered at affordable rent to those who have a connection to the area, with an eligible housing need.

“I’d like to thank Homes England and Imperator Developments for working with us on this scheme. It is a wonderful example of sympathetic urban development addressing a specific local need.”

The development has been named Adlam Court to commemorate and recognise the success and lifesaving work of the Joseph Adlam lifeboat. The Joseph Adlam was in service from 1921-1948 and holds the most lifesaving launches of all of the town’s vessels.

CCHA consulted with the RNLI to obtain permission to use the name and the organisation fully endorsed the idea of forging a local connection to this “important part of the town’s history”.

CCHA is further investing in the provision of affordable housing in the local area, with homes available to rent and to purchase on a Shared Ownership basis, at both the Shoreview and Longshore Village developments, less than a mile from the Adlam Court development.

By Matthew Neville – Correspondent, Bdaily

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