Public consultation launched for 146 new homes in Newcastle

house value

Placefirst has launched an online public consultation for its proposed development of 146 homes in Benwell after winning a tender to develop a new high-quality neighbourhood.

The proposed scheme, located two miles west of Newcastle city centre, would deliver a single-family rental neighbourhood with a variety of two, three and four bedroom house types.

Designed in partnership with JM Architects, and supported by local landscape architects  Southern Green, national civil and structural engineering consultancy, Curtins, and project managers Identity Consult. The development will bring back into use the 2.75ha brownfield site that has been vacant for 10 years. The site is a legacy of the old Housing Market Renew initiative and is a strategic regeneration priority for the Council.

The public consultation is available from 23rd January to 10th February 2023 and invites feedback from local residents. It can be accessed via bit.ly/BenwellDene.

Placefirst’s vision is to deliver a sustainable BTR neighbourhood with energy efficient homes, open spaces, quality management and maintenance. The proposed scheme would bring much needed private rental single-family homes to the area.

The regeneration specialist’s plans provide a modern and sustainable interpretation of terrace housing and would deliver high-spec, energy efficient homes for the modern renter. Placefirst’s renowned approach to communal spaces will include public open space and unique landscape zones that will maximise the fantastic views over the Tyne valley. Placefirst has adjacent landholdings which will be used to enhance biodiversity and provide further surface water attenuation as part of an innovative network of sustainable drainage systems (SuDs). In keeping with the developer’s focus on ESG, various other initiatives are also proposed, including an electric car club for residents.

The development will build on Placefirst’s impressive portfolio of single-family rental homes in the North East which includes ‘The Green’ in Hartlepool, ‘Scholars View’ in Hetton-le-Hole, a thriving community of 116 new build homes which was completed within 2022, and ‘The Oaks’ at Esh Winning in Durham, where work started in September 2022 to build the largest delivery of bungalows in a generation in the area.

Committed to creating quality homes for the single-family rental market, Placefirst manages every aspect of their developments, from the first rental enquiry through to fully managing and maintaining each home and neighbourhood with in-house specialist teams. Residents at Benwell would benefit from a dedicated resident services manager and a characterful, fully maintained, high-quality home.

The planning application will be submitted early 2023 following the consultation, and work is expected to begin in autumn if approved.

James Litherland, planning and development manager at Placefirst commented:

“We are delighted to launch the public consultation on our plans for Benwell Dene ahead of the planning submission.  The project will transform this prominent brownfield site into an exemplar BTR neighbourhood with energy efficient homes, shared communal and public open spaces and a unique landscape masterplan with a network of sustainable urban drainage systems.

“The development represents our continued growth in the North East through successful partnerships with local authorities to provide the highest quality homes for long term rent.”