Construction work has started on a new eco-friendly residential affordable housing scheme for people over the age of 55 in Penshaw.
The scheme, which has been named Penshaw Gardens, will feature 72 self-contained properties over three storeys, consisting of one- and two-bedroom apartments. Penshaw Gardens, situated off Station Road, is being developed by regeneration specialists, Vistry Partnerships North East, for Sunderland-based housing association, Gentoo Group.
The Vistry and Gentoo partnership will see a brownfield site redeveloped for affordable housing that was previously used for office space by Sunderland City Council. The building is eco-friendly and will feature renewable energy technology, such as air source heat pumps. The building will also be built without a gas supply, minimising its carbon emissions.
The site features a walled garden, which will also be restored and brought back into use alongside the new apartment complex.
Properties in the building will be modern and extremely spacious, meeting nationally described space standards (NDSS). There will also be free onsite parking, including electric car charging points, and an internal buggy storage area with direct access into the building.
All 72 properties will be made available for affordable rent via Gentoo’s usual Homehunt allocations system. Affordable rent is a formula set by central government and is 80% of the local market rent.
Nigel Wilson, Chief Executive Officer at Gentoo, said: “We’re delighted work is underway at our new Penshaw Gardens development. This is an important part of our affordable homes programme and we look forward to working with Vistry Partnerships North East to deliver it.
“Between 2015 and 2029 the number of people over the age of 65 in Sunderland is expected to increase by 42% and Gentoo currently has more than 6,000 people on its housing register over the age of 55. This scheme will provide much needed affordable housing for those people.”
Development Director at Vistry Partnerships North East, Andrew Rennie, added: “This project will deliver new, high quality, affordable housing for older members of the community and we’re pleased to be playing our part in helping Gentoo to meet housing need in Sunderland.”
Header image shows from left to right: Nigel Wilson, CEO at Gentoo, Ali Johnson, Head of Development at Gentoo, with Michael Duffy, Assistant Development Manager and Andrew Rennie, Development Director, both from Vistry Partnerships North East.
