North East homes on show for chief executive’s visit

Two important housing developments in the North East had an important visitor this week, as HCA chief executive Pat Ritchie returned to her ‘home’ region for a special visit.

Pat, who was the agency’s director for the North East before taking on the chief executive role, was in the region to see two contrasting – but equally significant – schemes.

Her first stop was at the impressive Woodland View development in Darlington, where Tees Valley Housing is creating 106 new homes in a £14m development.

The scheme, which received £4m in HCA funding, is on the site of the former Beaumont Hill School in the Harrowgate Hill area of the town. Designed by architects JDDK of Newcastle and being built by construction specialist Southdale, Woodland View includes Darlington’s first homes to reach level five of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Options for would-be residents include outright sale and rent now, buy later, as well as the HCA-backed HomeBuy Direct scheme and a number of homes for rent.

Pat Ritchie said:

“We are pleased to support Tees Valley Housing in providing quality homes on this excellent site. The scheme will help to set a new standard for green living in Darlington, as well as offering a range of affordable options to buy or rent.”

Pat’s next stop was in the Northumberland village of Allendale, where she joined local MP Guy Opperman for the opening of three new homes which have been developed by local people through Allendale Community Housing.

Set within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Allendale’s popularity is such that the average house price is around 22 times the average income of applicants on the local housing register – making affordable homes hard to come by.

Allendale Community Housing drew on technical support from Four Housing Group to create the striking new Allen Garden development, with three new homes available to rent from this month.

At the launch event Pat said:

“Allendale Community Housing has shown that it is possible for local people to identify a need, plan a solution, draw in professional support where it’s needed – and make it happen.

The HCA is working closely with groups across England to see how we can make things simpler for communities who wish to develop new homes – simplifying our funding processes and working with local authorities to put together local investment plans which will help guide decisions on funding.”
 

The new homes, which benefited from £185,000 in HCA investment, meet level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. They will be managed by Isos Housing.

David Stewart, Chair of Allendale Community Housing, added:

“We think this is a great example of the Big Society in action. The homes are built to extremely high environmental standards making them cheaper to live in, the work force has been mainly local craftsmen, and the tenants will all be local people -  a win, win, win.”
 

Photo (provided with permission from Four Housing Group) shows Pat Ritchie in Allendale with new resident Sarah Massey and her one year-old son Matthew.