Riverside in North East - New affordable homes for Blyth

Riverside is celebrating the completion of its latest new housing development worth over £1 million, based on a former retail complex in Blyth.

Tenant, Rachel Robe (pictured), is the first to pick up the keys to her brand new home in Redwood Crescent.

Local builder Rok completed the two, three and four bedroom houses, providing much needed affordable rented housing for the people of Blyth.

Riverside, the social landlord with offices in the North East, linked up with Blyth Valley Council, who nominated people waiting to take up rented accommodation.

Steve Ward, divisional director of Riverside said: “This is one of our first schemes funded by the Housing Corporation in the region. The homes are proving popular with locals, with eight families set to move in over the next couple of weeks.”

Riverside in the North East is responsible for one third of the growth of its parent company, which has properties nationwide. It provides sheltered and supported homes for vulnerable tenants, as well as general needs housing as far afield as Middlesbrough, Hull, York and Scunthorpe.

Despite the credit crunch, Riverside’s North East division, is expanding its business with a planned £32million investment over the next two years to provide 300 more affordable homes for people in the area.

Steve Ward added: “We are looking forward to completing another housing development in the next couple of months in nearby Seaton Delaval, on the outskirts of Blyth. There will be a mix of rented and shared ownership properties to meet the housing shortage in the area, and provide an affordable option for people who want to get onto the property ladder.”

The shared ownership properties at Seaton Delaval will be on sale for around £155,000 for a three-bedroom terrace, to £165,000 for a three-bedroom semi, with options to buy at either 25 or 50 per cent of the value at the outset.