New City Partnership Creates £34m Investment in New Homes and 100 Jobs in West Newcastle

Riverside and house builder Keepmoat have partnered with Newcastle City Council to develop 253 new homes at Etal Lane. The £34m development includes 163 two, three and four bed private homes for sale along with 90 affordable homes. The affordable homes comprise 70 houses for shared ownership along with 20 houses and bungalows for affordable rent.  Etal Lane is located to the west of Newcastle upon Tyne, 4 miles from the city centre. The scheme is the first to be delivered from the newly created Newcastle Housing Delivery Partnership Framework, an initiative which aims to maximise housing output on City Council owned sites through the establishment of closer working relationships with house builders and Registered Housing Providers.

Land receipts generated from the schemes will help in the delivery of City Council’s £25m Future Homes Programme, a key element of the Labour Party’s 2014 Local Election Manifesto – Creating a Fairer City. The £25m package of measures over the next five years will mean more and better homes in the city to meet the crisis in family housing, and will help to reduce by 2,000 the number of homes that need to be built in the green belt.

Councillor Ged Bell, Newcastle City Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment and Development at said: “The Etal Lane development provides a wide range of housing choices, and reaffirms the council’s commitment to creating a more inclusive housing offer, bringing investment to the city, and creating jobs for local people. With a mix of private sale and affordable properties, Etal Lane caters for all our local needs, and enables those looking to get a first step on the property ladder a place to do so.  “We look forward to working with Keepmoat and Riverside in delivering more balanced and inclusive communities.”

Mark Patchitt Director of Development and Growth at Riverside said “I think the Etal scheme shows how Riverside is ready to step up to the Devolution Agenda.  Newcastle has used its own land and money and signed a deal with Riverside and Keepmoat to build new homes in true partnership.  If the new Government does devolve funding and power, then Etal Lane is a great blueprint for other cities to follow.” “Etal Lane shows how Riverside continues to promote Home Ownership. The majority of homes will be sold for Shared Ownership to aspiring first time buyers. Shared Ownership helps bring the costs of buying a new home within the reach of many more households who are looking for a home of their own in Newcastle.”

Ian Prescott Land and Partnership’s Director for Keepmoat commented: “We are delighted to be involved with the City Council and Riverside on this innovative partnership that as well as creating 253 new homes will safeguard or create over 100 jobs. Keepmoat now have 9 housing projects underway in the City creating a total investment of £105m. Many of the schemes include affordable homes for local people and will help deliver the Council’s pledge to create a fairer city. The type of homes being provided is extensive ranging from 2 bed starter homes through to 4 bed executive homes, from homes for older people and those with dementia through to schemes for individuals with disabilities and autism.”