An affordable housing scheme at South Newsham in Blyth is progressing as one of the first schemes in Northumberland County Council’s new ambitious affordable housing programme.
The development will see 66 new homes developed on council owned land near the southernmost point of Blyth and just off the A1061 and South Newsham Road.
It will comprise a range of one bedroom flats and two bedroom bungalows, as well as two, three and four bedroom homes. The properties have been designed to meet the housing need that has been assessed for the area and they will achieve Level 3 of the housing Code for Sustainable Homes.
Through the scheme arms-length management organisation Homes for Northumberland is increasing the number of properties it will manage on behalf of Northumberland County Council, and it is also managing the building programme carried out by Galliford Try Partnerships North East.
The development is part of Northumberland County Council’s new affordable homes programme, and adds to the regeneration of Hodgsons Road Estate and the new homes being built at Tynedale Drive in Blyth, with the three sites totaling 179 new social homes.
These schemes have all received funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
Building started in August 2013 and is the handovers are scheduled to begin in Autumn of this year through to Spring 2015.
Councillor Allan Hepple, Northumberland County Council’s policy board member for planning, housing and regeneration said: “This further high quality housing scheme in Blyth demonstrates the council’s commitment to bring hundreds of new affordable homes to the parts of Northumberland where they are most needed.
“We have committed to investing at least £30million in a comprehensive affordable housing programme.“
Kevin Lowry, managing director at Homes for Northumberland, said: “We are committed to improving social housing in Northumberland and developing our neighbourhoods and communities. Therefore I am thrilled to be working on behalf of the council on our third new build site in Blyth.
“This site will go a long way towards addressing the need for social housing, and aid us to tackle under occupation.“
Stephen McCoy, managing director with Galliford Try Partnerships North East, said: “This is the third construction project we have undertaken on behalf of Northumberland County Council and partnership with Homes for Northumberland, and we are delighted to be part of an initiative which will hugely improve the standard and choice of affordable housing in Blyth.“