More than 250 homes set for former freight depot

A former Gateshead freight depot will soon be transformed into a residential development with more than 250 homes.The historic site just off the Felling Bypass will be redeveloped to include 270 two, three and four bedroom-homes for sale, private and affordable rent.The Gateshead Regeneration Partnership (GRP) is responsible for overcoming the challenges that the site posed, including clearing abandoned old railway workings andremediating the former industrial land ready for redevelopment.A final cash injection from Homes England has now enabled work to commence.GRP is a joint venture involving Gateshead Council, regeneration and house building specialist Countryside Partnerships (formerly named Vistry Partnerships), and registered housing provider Home Group. It is driving a £350m initiative to create about 1,500 new homes on 16 sites across the borough.Linden Homes, which is Countryside Partnerships’ housebuilding brand, will market the 165 homes for sale, while Home Group will offer 25 for affordable rent.Sigma Capital will market 80 units for private rent under its BTR brand Simple Life.The scheme will be the first housing project to be connected to Gateshead’s District Heating Network, which is a new, low carbon energy centre which generates heat and power locally through an underground network of heat pipes.Dave Brown, managing director with Countryside Partnerships North East, said: “We are delighted to be on the verge of delivering this ambitious mixed tenure development close to the centre of Gateshead. A landmark project for the partnership, the Freight Depot follows successful projects that have created over 423 homes in Birtley, Deckham, Rowlands Gill, Windy Nook and Saltwell.”He added: “I’m confident this project will build on this success, creating more high-quality homes for the borough and a bustling community on a formerly unused parcel of land.”Councillor John Adams, the Council’s cabinet member for housing, added: “It is fantastic to finally get this ambitious development in the heart of Gateshead underway. Regenerating an unused brownfield site into much needed homes to meet local housing need will not only improve choice and availability, but deliver an economic uplift for the town centre nearby.”