Affordable housing scheme secures green light

An affordable housing scheme designed to be used by the elderly has been approved in Newcastle.Tolent Living brought forward the plans for the construction of 29 residential properties on land west of Somerset Place and land south of Sceptre Street, Elswick.The scheme comprises 15, two-bed bungalows, seven, two-bed lower Tyneside apartments and seven, one-bed upper Tyneside apartments.The scheme will be developed across two adjacent Newcastle City Council-owned brownfield sites, measuring a total of approximately 2.8 acres.The units will be let through Tyne and Wear Homes and managed by Your Homes Newcastle. The properties will be available to persons that are aged over 55 or households who have level access requirements, with care and support needs.A statement filed with the council on behalf of the applicant said that the scheme is in “accordance with current local planning policy” and adheres “to the contextual fabric of the surrounding urban grain.”The scheme has now been approved, subject to conditions.