Residents in Byker are being given a greater say over the future of their homes and community following the transfer of around 1,800 properties from Newcastle City Council to the Byker Community Trust.
The transfer marks a major new chapter for the Byker Estate, placing homes and other estate assets in the hands of a locally focused, not-for-profit organisation established to work with residents and secure the long-term future of the neighbourhood.
At the heart of the new arrangements is a commitment to give local people a stronger voice in decisions affecting their homes.
Residents are represented within the governance of the Byker Community Trust, giving the people who live on the estate a direct opportunity to influence its priorities and help shape decisions about future investment and improvements.
Newcastle Labour believes transferring assets into locally accountable organisations can give communities greater influence over the places in which they live, while allowing investment to be focused around local priorities.
The transfer covers 1,816 dwellings, including 1,788 Housing Revenue Account homes, together with land and other assets across the estate.
It follows extensive work and consultation with tenants over the future management of their homes.
The new arrangements are intended to support long-term investment in Byker’s housing, improve homes and the wider environment and ensure decisions reflect the needs and priorities of residents.
They will also help protect the unique character of the Grade II* listed Byker Estate, ensuring improvements to homes go hand-in-hand with preserving the architecture and heritage that have made the neighbourhood internationally recognised.
For Labour, the transfer demonstrates how regeneration can be done with communities rather than to them, giving residents a meaningful role in shaping the future of their neighbourhood.
Council Leader Cllr Nick Forbes said: “The people who know Byker best are the people who live there, and they should have a real voice in decisions about the future of their homes and their community.
“The creation of the Byker Community Trust gives residents an opportunity to play a much greater role in shaping priorities for the estate, while helping to secure the long-term investment needed to improve homes and the wider neighbourhood.
“Byker has an extraordinary heritage, but its future matters just as much. We want to see investment that respects what makes the estate special while delivering the good-quality homes and environment residents deserve.
“This is about giving local people more influence, bringing decisions closer to the community and working together to build a better future for Byker.”