Countryside secures go-ahead for Morpeth housing
Plans for a £60m third and final phase of homes on a former hospital site in the Northumberland town have been given the green light.
The plans will see a further 94 properties and an 84-bed extra care scheme developed at the King Edwards Park development, just off Dark Lane in the town.
The site was formerly home to St George’s Hospital.
Countryside Partnerships North East’s final phase will be delivered in partnership with Home Group and Karbon Homes. It follows two successful phases on the overall £131m project, which has already seen 154 homes built since work began in 2015.
The 94 open market sale properties – which will be available through parent company Vistry Group’s home sales brand, Linden Homes – will include 62 two, three, four and five bedroomed houses and 32 two-bedroomed apartments, to be located on what was formerly the superintendent’s house at the old hospital.
An extra care scheme will also be developed on the site, delivered in partnership with Northern housing association Karbon Homes. This will include 84 homes consisting of a mix of one and two-bed apartments, a number of which will be designed for people with dementia and two apartments suitable for bariatric care.
With 24/7 care available on site – provided in partnership between Karbon and Northumberland County Council – the new scheme will create housing and care for residents with differing levels of care and support needs to live well and independently.
The scheme aims to create community links and will include a café that will be open to both residents and the wider community.
Plans for the retention of the old water tower have also been agreed. This will continue to overlook and provide a focal point in an area earmarked for public, open green space. Countryside also intends to install information boards within this area, explaining the historic use of the site. The scheme also includes some new habitat creation.
Work on this phase is expected to begin in spring 2024 with the first activity focusing on the demolition of existing buildings and the delivery of the extra care element.
All three phases of the project are being developed through Countryside Partnerships North East’s joint venture with Home Group – called Evolution Morpeth LLP.
Dave Brown, managing director, Countryside Partnerships North East, said: “We are happy to have received committee approval for a third phase of high-quality housing at King Edwards Park and look forward to building on the success of our initial two phases of work in Morpeth.
“This will continue the regeneration of the old hospital, demolishing the remaining semi-derelict buildings to create a mix of properties, including homes suitable for first time buyers, larger families and apartments for sale.
“The creation of the scheme will also provide much needed housing for local people with a care need whilst delivering open green and community spaces for local residents and the general public to enjoy.”
The phase includes houses, apartments and an extra care element. Credit: via Persuasion
Zoey Hawthorne, assistant director, development delivery at Karbon Homes, said: “It’s great news that we’ve received the go ahead from planners to take this exciting project forward.
“Our Extra Care scheme will help meet the demand for specialist housing in the local authority area, ensuring local people have access to modern, high-quality and affordable housing that provides them with the levels of care and support they need to continue living independently.”
The extra care portion of the scheme is to be part-funded by Homes England, through Karbon’s strategic partnership with the government’s housing delivery agency.
The strategic partnership has provided Karbon with funding to deliver 2,200 new affordable homes across the North East and Yorkshire over the next few years, 10% of which has been dedicated to the development of new homes for people requiring additional support needs.
