Above: Councillor Angela Douglas, Cabinet member for Housing, Project Manager Michael Crinnion and The Gateshead Housing Company’s Older Persons’ Housing Manager Charlotte Gaines help add the finishing touch at Hallgarth
Work on the first rented homes to be built by Gateshead Council for 25 years has reached a major milestone with a topping-out ceremony on site.
Eight new two-bed bungalows in Hallgarth, Winlaton will replace smaller bungalows that were not in line with the Government’s Lifetime Homes Standard.
The homes, which will be rented to over 55s, are being constructed by Gateshead Council’s Local Environmental Services team who won the contract up against several UK-wide construction companies.
The new homes include energy efficiency and design features that add to the comfort, convenience and changing needs of people at different stages of life.
The £900,000 scheme will see the homes managed by The Gateshead Housing Company and should see new tenants moving in by November.
The scheme is also being supported by the Homes and Communities Agency and is one of several across Gateshead that will lead to more affordable rented housing in the borough.
Councillor Angela Douglas, Gateshead Council’s cabinet member for Housing, said: "Local councils like us have struggled for many years to match people’s housing needs with the ever-reducing supply of social housing, especially for older people who have very specific housing needs.
"We have been given the chance to replace outdated houses with new homes that will be modern and accessible and provide a better living environment."
The Gateshead Housing Company’s Chief Executive, Bill Fullen, said: “We have already made improvements to thousands of homes across Gateshead through our Decent Homes programme - with less than one in 14 now needing any work.
"We are delighted to be working with Gateshead Council on this new build scheme, which creates event more homes for local people in the future.”
“These will be the first new Council houses to be built in Gateshead in over 20 years, and they will be among the greenest homes in the borough,” said Pat Ritchie, North East Director of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
“I’m pleased that HCA support is helping Gateshead to build high quality homes to replace outdated bungalows that had become unpopular and difficult to let.”