North East housing association Bernicia has invested more than £35m in building 208 new homes in the last year, constructing some of its most energy efficient properties ever to help meet its promise of investing in homes and communities.
Bernicia is also committed to building over 200 more homes across the region in the current financial year, helping North East Mayor Kim McGuinness meet her target of increasing the supply of social and affordable housing in the region.
Included in the latest Bernicia new build and under construction programme are:
- Bernicia’s first Net Zero homes at Guidepost, Northumberland, fitted with the latest technology to generate clean, renewable energy and keep tenants’ fuel bills low
- 65 homes in Guidepost, Choppington and Stakeford, tackling an urgent need for quality new homes for local people in South East Northumberland
- 56 quality homes under construction at Seton Hall, Berwick, the first new social housing in the town for a decade
- 34 new homes in Killingworth North Moor, North Tyneside
- 15 properties for affordable rent at Foxton Mill, Cramlington
Bernicia’s forward pipeline also includes new homes in Newcastle, Sunderland and Durham.
Grant support from Homes England helps Bernicia deliver its new homes plan.
As well as building new properties, Bernicia invested more than £10m during the year making a further 1,300 existing homes warmer and more energy efficient.
This is a continuation of the successful energy efficiency programme resulting in 90% of its homes already reaching the energy efficiency rating of SAP Level C, five years ahead of the Government’s target date.
This is in addition to a £70m, four-year stock investment programme Bernicia is delivering, to ensure existing homes are maintained to a quality standard.
New technology, including solar PV panels, air source heat pumps, energy efficient boilers and insulation measures, are helping cut fuel bills for hundreds of tenants.
In all, over a four-year period, Bernicia is investing more than £220m in new and existing properties.
John Johnston, Bernicia Chief Executive, said:
“A place to call home sets the foundation for all things in life.
“We work with a range of organisations, including The North East Combined Authority, our local authority partners and our involved tenants, to help determine need and inform our plans for the future.
“We are delighted with the positive difference we have delivered but are also determined to do even more for the North East, so watch out for the launch of our new five-year Corporate Strategy early next year.”
