The first residents have settled in after work to build 22 new homes was completed in Angus Close and Grasmere Court, in Killingworth.
Built on the site of the former West House Public House, the new homes consist of apartments, two and three-bedroom homes.
The site had been out of use for a number of years and, alongside N.B. Clark, North Tyneside Council earmarked the site for affordable homes and, when completed, they were made available for application to those on our housing register.
One of the new residents, Sharon MacDonald, has moved into her new home with her husband Paul, and is feeling right at home already.
Speaking on her new home, Sharon said: “Honestly I’m over the moon to be moved in and living here. The house is beautiful and everyone involved did such a fantastic job – they couldn’t have done any better.
“It’s so nice to come into something that’s yours, you can shape it the way you want and I’m feeling right at home already.
“I’d been living in a privately rented home before and it was stressful knowing we’d have to find somewhere else to live, but the council were a great help in making me feel comfortable.
“This is my dream home, my forever home and I couldn’t be happier with how it’s worked out.”
Sharon welcomed Elected Mayor Karen Clark and Cllr John Harrison, cabinet member for Housing, into her home to show them around and chat about how it’s been so far.
Mayor Clark said: “One of our priorities as a council is to ensure that we’re continuing to deliver more safe and comfortable homes for our residents.
“This development has turned out brilliantly and it’s a great feeling as a social housing provider to be able to take an out-of-use brownfield site and turn it into a place that so many families can call home.
“Thank you to Sharon for showing us around her home. It looks fantastic and we were so happy to hear how her and Paul have settled in so quickly.”
In line with the Council’s ambition to reduce its carbon footprint, the homes will have air source heat pumps and solar panels installed at no additional cost to the resident. This will help to lower the energy bills and running costs of the homes.
The homes contribute to North Tyneside Council’s affordable homes programme. To date, over 2,300 homes have been created with a further 1,700 planned as part of phase one, and an additional 1,000 as part of the second phase.
ENDS