The development of housing on council-owned land in Kenton will play a key role in making Newcastle a working city it was disclosed this week.
Across Kenton, work is well underway to build new homes for sale and rent on three disused brownfield sites, including the land which belonged to Harehills Resource Centre, and on Kirkwood Ave, North Kenton. A 15 apartment concierge is to be built on Kirkwood Ave and a dozen bungalows are now occupied by pensioners on Roeburn Way, Montagu Estate.
YHN have also released details of available properties to rent in North Kenton for those on council house waiting lists. And a new building programme is almost complete at the bottom end of Kenton Bar Estate.
Coun. Stephen Lambert, Chairman of the Kenton Committee, said : “Clearly there’s a housing shortage for people who want to rent or buy affordable homes. We’ve made a good start, but it’s no – where near to meet the demand for decent, affordable social housing in various neighbourhoods in Kenton. In a nut shell we need more homes and it’s up to the Government of the day to help build more.”
According to the local councillor, the new builds, have provided greater choice and have helped to create new jobs for construction workers, ’brikies’, ‘sparkies’, as well as increasing the number of apprenticeships and training opportunities for local workers.
“These developments are playing an important role in making Newcastle and Kenton a ‘working city’. Much has been achieved in the last year, but more needs to be done,” he said.