Housing provider marks 115-property scheme end

A housing association has hailed the power of partnerships after completing a 115-affordable property scheme.

Gentoo has finished the £27.7 million Cricketers Hill development, in Sunderland.

Bosses say the venture has transformed a 4.28-hectare brownfield site into an estate of two, three and four-bed homes featuring air source heat pumps, solar panels, smart meters and electric vehicle charging points.

They add its success was fuelled by an alliance with social housing regeneration firm RE:GEN Group that helped overcome an original contractor’s administration.

Ali Johnson, assistant director of development at Sunderland-headquartered Gentoo, said: “Cricketers Hill is a development of which we are incredibly proud.

“We faced a significant challenge following the administration of the original contractor.

“But, thanks to the commitment, collaboration and expertise of RE:GEN Group and our wider project partners, we were able to get back on site within six months.

“Together, we’ve transformed a vacant brownfield site into a thriving community.”

The scheme was supported by £6.6 million from Homes England and £1.95 million from the Brownfield Land Release Fund, with its completion marked by the opening of a play area.

Simon Watson, regional operations director for Sunderland-based RE:GEN North East, added: “Not only have we delivered 115 homes, we’ve also strengthened our partnership with Gentoo.

“We’ve created seven jobs for local people, provided training opportunities for 18 – of which eight went on to secure a trainee or apprenticeship role – and almost half of the people that worked on the development were from the local area.”

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