Work to develop 49 family homes in Gateshead has commenced on the site of the former Hookergate School at High Spen.

All of these houses will be available for open market sale.

This signals the start of the second of two new housing schemes being built by the Gateshead Regeneration Partnership (GRP), which has already began working on 62 affordable homes at Hyde Park Street, in Bensham - all for rent or shared ownership - with 20 of the 62 specially designed for the local Jewish community. 

The cross-funding initiative between the sites demonstrates the objectives of the GRP, which has a mission to improve housing quality and choice, create economic uplift and enhance community cohesion.

So far, the joint venture involving Gateshead Council, Vistry North East and registered housing provider Home Group, has delivered 570 homes across 10 sites.

Councillor Chris Buckley, cabinet member for housing at Gateshead Council, said: "The Gateshead Regeneration Partnership is really transforming sites across the borough. These new homes in High Spen, along with the GRP homes in Bensham, are providing high quality, sustainable homes fit for the future."

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Sean Egan, managing director with Vistry North East, added: "We are delighted to see construction at the former school site begin and look forward to delivering these high quality and much needed family homes.

"The excellent location and setting make this the ideal place to introduce our Bovis Homes brand to the North East. I'm sure it will prove popular with buyers."

The joint venture is providing job and training opportunities - a minimum of 25% of which go to local people - and commits to spend a quarter of the supply budget with businesses within the borough.

The partnership has plans to deliver a further 169 homes over the next 12 months and is currently building at the Freight Village development, close to Gateshead town centre, at Trilogy III in Bensham and at The Cedars in Birtley.

"It is also a real positive that the sale of these homes will support the creation of new affordable rented homes close to the centre of Gateshead, improving the choice and standard of housing options in the Bensham area," said Mr Egan.

Laura Hattrick, senior development and delivery manager, at Home Group, said: "The Gateshead Regeneration Partnership goes from strength to strength. And we are delighted to be part of it, delivering much needed homes in the borough.

"The variety and tenure of the homes we have built to date reflect the needs across the borough. It is great to see homes for sale now being offered to those who need them, while the proceeds go to develop more affordable homes for people in the region."