Backworth housing development nears completion
Local families, older people and people on low incomes are set to benefit from new high-quality affordable homes in Backworth – and councillors were pleased to be invited to look around the housing development as it nears completion.
Castle Square, managed by North East housing association Bernicia’s own construction team, is a new development comprising of 32 two, three and four bedroom affordable homes.
Cllr John Harrison, cabinet member with responsibility for Housing, was joined by local ward councillors, Cllr Carole Burdis and Cllr Brian Burdis and senior officers from Bernicia to visit the scheme ahead of the site completing in December.
Speaking on the development, Cllr Harrison said: “Demand for housing in North Tyneside has always been high and this is down to our borough being such a great place to live.
“We have committed to delivering 5,000 affordable homes in North Tyneside and schemes like the one at Castle Square provide much needed high-quality, affordable homes for people to move into. We have made it a priority that, along with our partners and registered providers like Bernicia, we will create the type of housing that North Tyneside and the people living here need and deserve.
“I was really impressed with the quality of the development and I’m looking forward to the work being completed and the first residents moving in.”
Michael Farr, Bernicia executive director of assets and growth, said: “We’re delighted to be working with North Tyneside Council on this scheme to deliver much-needed affordable homes for local people.
“The quality of the scheme speaks for itself – having been delivered by Bernicia’s own in-house construction team – and we look forward to welcoming tenants into their new homes soon.”
The homes at Castle Square will be available for shared ownership that support low-cost home ownership and affordable rents at significantly less than the market rate to make them more accessible for potential tenants.
They will be available to let through Tyne and Wear Homes as they become available, which is set to become North Tyneside Homefinder on December 6 as the Tyne and Wear Homes partnership comes to an end.
The £4.4m scheme is a mix of houses, bungalows and apartments and contributes directly to North Tyneside Council’s Affordable Homes Programme, which has seen the Elected Mayor and Cabinet commit to delivering 5,000 high-quality, affordable homes in the borough.
The council’s drive to create more affordable homes focuses on providing the types of homes that are most in demand, including high-quality one-bed properties, bungalows, and family homes.