After lying vacant for over 25 years, one of the most historic sites in Gateshead is to be redeveloped, with more than 250 mixed-tenure homes being built over the next five years.
Gateshead Regeneration Partnership (GRP) will redevelop the former Freight Depot site, just off the Felling Bypass, into a new large-scale development comprising 270 homes.
The partnership is responsible for overcoming the challenges that the site posed, including clearing abandoned old railway workings and remediating the former industrial land ready for redevelopment.
Now, a final injection of cash from Homes England has enabled work to begin.
GRP is a joint-venture involving Gateshead Council; regeneration and housebuilding specialist Countryside Partnerships (formerly Vistry Partnerships); and registered provider Home Group.
It is driving a £350m initiative to create around 1,500 new homes on 16 sites across the borough.
The Freight Depot site, one of the biggest the partnership will develop in Gateshead, will be transformed into 270 properties for sale and private and affordable rent.
Countryside Partnerships’ housebuilding brand, Linden Homes, will market the 165 homes for sale; Home Group will offer 25 for affordable rent; while private rented sector homes specialist Sigma Capital will market 80 of the new units for private rent under its build-to-rent brand, Simple Life.
The new two-, three-, and four-bedroomed properties will meet Lifetime Homes standards, meaning they will be suitable for all, including those of restricted mobility and can be adapted as people’s needs change over time.
They will also have “much larger” rooms, higher levels of energy efficiency, and greater environmental performance than the average new-build home, according to the developers.
The development will also be the first housing scheme to be connected to Gateshead’s District Heating Network – a new, low-carbon (soon to be zero carbon) energy centre that generates both heat and power locally via a new 5km underground network of heat pipes.
Further, the layout will incorporate a community hub and landscaping, including open spaces and green access routes through the site.
The Freight Depot scheme is set to offer more than 300 work experience, skills, and training opportunities for local young people.
‘Economic uplift’
Dave Brown, managing director with Countryside Partnerships North East, said: “We are delighted to be on the verge of delivering this ambitious mixed-tenure development close to the centre of Gateshead.
“A landmark project for the partnership, the Freight Depot follows successful projects that have created over 423 homes in Birtley, Deckham, Rowlands Gill, Windy Nook, and Saltwell…I’m confident this project will build on this success, creating more high-quality homes for the borough and a bustling community on a formerly unused parcel of land.”
Councillor John Adams, the council’s cabinet member for Housing, said: “It is fantastic to finally get this ambitious development in the heart of Gateshead underway.
“Regenerating an unused brownfield site into much-needed homes to meet local housing need will not only improve choice and availability, but deliver an economic uplift for the town centre nearby.”
Laura Carr, Development and Delivery manager at Home Group, said: “We are delighted to be involved in the exciting Freight Depot plans in Gateshead, which will deliver a large number of much-needed homes to the area.
“In achieving this latest milestone, the project will soon be underway and able to deliver cutting-edge properties to a historic site – as well as fostering skills and opportunities within the local community.”
Graeme Reay, Land director at Sigma, said: “We are excited to work with the Gateshead Regeneration Partnership and our long-standing partners – Countryside Partnerships North East – to build and deliver much-needed homes for Gateshead at Freight Depot.
“The development, with a fantastic choice of tenure, is set to become a thriving new community and we’re thrilled to be offering local renters’ choice and peace of mind through new-build, high-quality rental – matched with a professional service.
“With over 5,000 properties already built in the UK, we are delighted to be launching our first homes within the Gateshead area.”
The Homes England support comes from the government’s Local Authority Accelerated Construction (LAAC) programme, which was launched to help unlock public land and increase the speed of delivery on local authority housing schemes.
The first residents are expected to move into the new homes in December 2023, with completion of the overall project expected in early 2028.
Image: An aerial view of the former Freight Depot site in Gateshead
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