Beyond Housing has secured additional funding to deliver the flagship Church Lane North regeneration scheme following a joint bid to Government with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council. As part of the Chancellor's Autumn Budget, it was announced that £687,955 has been awarded to support the development after the Council submitted a funding application on behalf of the housing association. The funding will come from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
The Church Lane North scheme aims to regenerate the estate of 291 homes in the Grangetown area. After consulting with residents, the regeneration will redesign the whole estate, providing private gardens for all homes, parking spaces and improved privacy.
Beyond Housing's existing homes will be provided with new roofing and external wall insulation to increase their energy efficiency, lowering the costs for the residents. Additionally, 33 new and affordable homes will be built, including bungalows for those who require more accessible homes.
The scheme will also include a programme to engage the community, and encourage community cohesion by reducing antisocial behaviour, and promoting education and employment opportunities. A community hub has also been opened, dedicated to both Beyond Housing colleagues and customers.
The enabling works commenced in October 2021 and will be followed by improvements to the existing proprieties such as roofing, external wall insulation, and development of gardens with the completion date estimated to be July 2022. The demolition of selected buildings is due to start in December 2021, to facilitate the works for the public spaces and highways, together with the construction of the new homes, which will begin in January 2022 and are expected to be completed in September 2023.
The total investment will be of over £16 million, of which the Council has helped secure £687,955 through this bid. The Council has also previously supported Beyond Housing in securing funding from Homes England to deliver the new build homes for the scheme.
Cllr Chris Gallacher, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, said: “The Council is delighted to have helped Beyond Housing secure the remaining funding necessary to deliver this flagship regeneration scheme in full. We are one of only 14 councils nationally, and the only one in the northeast region, to be awarded this funding, demonstrating the high quality of these proposals.
“This regeneration scheme has the potential to capitalise on the significant economic growth planned at Teesworks, the new Freeport and the ambitious plans to regenerate Eston town centre. The Council will continue to work with Beyond Housing to help deliver our shared ambitions for the residents of the area, including a commitment to secure local training and employment opportunities from this investment."
Rosemary Du Rose, Chief Executive of Beyond Housing, said: “We're delighted to have received this significant contribution to our flagship regeneration programme, which is so supportive of our mission of creating cohesive communities where people choose to live.
“We're enormously grateful to the council for working with us to submit this joint bid for government funding, which will help us to realise this fantastic development for the people of Grangetown."