A pair of affordable housing developments in North Tyneside have scooped top awards.
North Tyneside Council, alongside local firm HUSK, has claimed the ‘Residential Project of the Year’ award at the Constructing Excellence North East Awards for its work on Falmouth Close, in North Shields.
The scheme took 52 garages that were no longer in use, and as a result had become a target for anti-social behaviour, and converted them into eight new, comfortable and affordable homes for residents.
And the Council’s partnership with HUSK has received further recognition, winning the ‘Innovation in Housing’ award at the MJ Awards for its work at Belshill Close and Blackhill Avenue in Wallsend.
Having become derelict, the garages had become a blight on the local area, but following the project, the site was transformed into new bungalows with a low carbon footprint for residents.
The sites were developed using HUSK’s patented method, in which the garage roofs are removed, and the walls are retained. Pre-fabricated insulated timber framed walls are then erected with the elements of the home being created inside the void, including a kitchen, wet room, living and dining area. The design also incorporates a resident parking area and individual front gardens.
Cllr John Harrison, cabinet member for Housing, said: “We are immensely proud to have won these prestigious awards. North Tyneside is a great place to live and awards like this really showcase that.
“The feedback we’ve had from residents on both schemes has been fantastic. Everyone has settled in really well, and we are immensely proud of these developments, and our work alongside HUSK.
“We have made a commitment to continue to create high-quality, affordable housing opportunities for our residents. These sites are a great example of being creative and finding solutions for sites that otherwise be difficult to find a purpose for.”
Designed with a low carbon footprint in line with the council’s commitment of working towards being carbon net zero by 2030, the homes built on both sites have several measures in place there that will save tenants money on their electric bills, including an insulated timber frame and roof, air source heat pump and solar panels.
The schemes formed part of the Council’s Affordable Homes Programme, which is a commitment by the Elected Mayor and Cabinet to deliver thousands of affordable homes for the borough. More than 2,100 homes have been completed in recent years and the council aims to create a further 2,900 homes alongside its partners by 2032.
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