Affordable home plan will help to tackle shortage
SUCCESSIVE governments have failed to build enough affordable homes, leaving families living in “awful” conditions.
That was the word from one councillor as plans for 58 new low-cost homes were approved in the Tweedmouth area of Berwick.
The £13m development, on land at Seton Hall on Ord Road, was proposed by Bernicia Homes and partially funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority and Northumberland County Council themselves.
Bernicia has said the scheme will see a mix of bungalows and family homes built on the site of the former Seton Hall at Tweedmouth “specifically to meet local need”.
The homes will consist of 11 two and three-bedroom bungalows as well as a mix of two, three and four-bedroom properties on the site of the now demolished Seton Hall. The houses for affordable rent or shared ownership are aimed at local people – for young people starting out on the housing ladder, couples, young families, and older people looking to downsize their existing home.
Rents will be at least 20% cheaper than private market rents in the area, while shared ownership will allow people to part buy and part rent their new home, with the option of buying bigger shares when they can afford to.
However, despite the town’s apparent need for affordable homes, four local residents had objected to the plans. Speaking at the latest meeting of the North Northumberland Local Area Committee, resident Thomas Stewart outlined some of their concerns.
He said: “This is the wrong scheme, the wrong site and has very poor environmental performance.
“It is mostly industrial land, in fact it is the largest industrial estate in north Northumberland. The NHS looked at this site for the new hospital. The reasons they gave for rejecting it was the smell from the sewage works and concerns over traffic.
“Just one tree on the site will be retained, and what does the environment get in return? 58 bat boxes. That is it.”
But councillors on the committee were supportive of the plan. Coun Georgina Hill, who represents the Berwick East ward, hit out at successive governments for their failure to deliver enough affordable housing up and down the country.
Proposing the granting of planning permission, she said: “I have sat on planning committees for a good number of years and there are very few applications that I propose with such enthusiasm.
“Take a step back – we know that these houses are so much in demand. Every day there are stories of families living in awful conditions with people who can’t get on the housing ladder.
“We know governments of all colours have failed to build enough houses, we know the injustice of home ownership.
“It’s a real crisis. These houses are so much to be welcomed. I 100% would love to propose the application.”
Coun Colin Hardy, a Berwick resident who represents the Norham and Islandshires ward, added: “I live in a terrace that was originally built for workers. Three of the houses on the street are for sale – one is a holiday home and two are being looked at because they’re less than the price of a caravan at the holiday park.
“We, as a responsible town, need the accommodation that is being put forward today.”
The plans were voted through by six votes to two.
Bernicia has said the work on site is due to start in the autumn, and is expected to be completed within two years.