Building work is now complete on the former Abbeyhill school site in Stockton for 12 new homes.
The £1.3 million development, partly funded by the Homes and Communities Agency, is owned and managed by local Housing Association, North Star, and comprises eight two-bedroomed houses and four bungalows.
The scheme, built by local firm Gus Robinson Developments, brings much needed specialist accommodation to the area, with several of the new homes designed to meet the needs of elderly and disabled residents.
Not only do the 12 new homes provide those residents with the opportunity to retain their independence in their very own homes, but the development has also given pupils from a local school the chance to gain new skills.
Local pupils from Frederick Nattrass Primary Academy got the opportunity to develop their understanding of the processes and skills involved in the development of new homes. Pupils learnt about the design, planning and construction processes, with the opportunity to draw their own designs, as well as being able to visit the site and experience property development first hand at key stages of the build.
Paul Green, Development Officer at North Star, said: “Our new development on the former Abbeyhill school site in Stockton cements our commitment to creating homes and building futures for those living in our communities.
“Not only are we providing future-proofed homes that are specially adapted to the needs of elderly and disabled residents, but we also have given local pupils the opportunity to learn, develop and grow.”
Brian Rose, Technical Co-ordinator for Gus Robinson Developments Ltd, said: “This has been a year-long scheme, and the children from Frederick Nattrass School have been involved throughout that time.
“We have invited them onto the site whenever possible, or to watch from the safety of the school grounds. Myself and Paul Green, from North Star, also spent an afternoon in the school giving the children projects based around the site.
“We have a very strong community ethos within Gus Robinson Developments Ltd, and projects such as this where we can work closely with a school highlight that. It is very important that we engage with our neighbours, and the feedback from the staff and children has been fantastic.”
Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Housing, said: “This new development complements the thriving regeneration of Norton Park and I’ve no doubt that both will be very popular with residents.
“The development is also helping to support people to live independently and enjoy full integration with their local community. To have local schoolchildren from Frederick Nattrass Primary Academy involved in learning more about the house building process is great to see and I’m sure they took a lot from it and understand more about the ideas and benefits of new developments and the communities that grow alongside them.”
Bungalows prove popular in Hardwick
Our recent phase of development in Hardwick, Stockton, is at Willow Court, a small group of five bungalows. These were built in July 2016 and are handily located for buses, shops and hospital facilities. They were named after the attractive, existing willow trees that remain in the new gardens.
