Couple Victor Smiles and Kathleen Young have become the first residents to move into one of North Tyneside's most well-known buildings. The other 24 households will move into homes in Northumberland Square in North Shields during the next few months.
Newcastle based social housing provider Home Group has invested £1.75m with converting properties on one side of Northumberland Square from un-used offices into homes for local people. The HCA has contributed £328,000 towards the work.
Victor, 71, and Kathleen, 80, were handed the keys to their new home by North Tyneside Elected Mayor Linda Arkley and Ian Tallentire, Home Group Director of Development.
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Home Group has renamed buildings on one side of Northumberland Square as Scott House – in honour of North Shields film director Tony Scott who died in August last year and was behind box office smashes including Top Gun and Beverley Hills Cop II.
Kathleen, a retired sheltered housing warden, said: "The last time I was in this building was when it was council offices and I was retiring. I never thought I’d end up living here. I’m really looking forward to living here. It's right in the centre of town and close to my church, doctors and lots of shops that I use. The flat is really spacious and I’m pleased that we're on the ground floor as the stairs in our previous home were becoming a bit too much for me.
"Home Group has done a really good job with the flat. We've got a lovely kitchen, two bedrooms and plenty of storage space. We've met some people who are due to become our new neighbours and I'm sure we’ll be really happy here."
Work to transform the offices, which had remained empty for seven years, started in February 2012 and was completed in March 2013.
The scheme is seen by North Tyneside Council as a significant step in reinvigorating the Northumberland Square area through mixed residential and business use.
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