Placefirst and Lovell, who are working together to deliver 146-build-to-rent homes at the Benwell Dene development in Newcastle, are to form an ongoing educational partnership with nearby Bridgewater School.
Representatives from Placefirst, the developer and long-term operator of the scheme, and Lovell, national partnership housing specialist who have been contracted to build the properties, met with the primary school’s Headteacher Samantha Robson and Business Manager Adam Beechey on site at Benwell Dene to discuss opportunities for future engagement and collaboration.
One event already in the pipeline is an assembly visit by Lovell staff with the aim to educate pupils on health and safety and the dangers of building sites, which will be followed by a poster design competition.
The Benwell Dene development will regenerate a six-acre brownfield site located off Delaval Road in the West End of the city, providing 119 two to four-bedroom houses and 27 two-bedroom apartments for long-term rent.
Placefirst, a developer and operator of single-family homes, appointed the North East region of Lovell as the contractor to build the homes in June 2024. Construction started on site in August 2024, and the scheme is expected to be completed by June 2027. Once finished, the homes will be managed by Placefirst.
“As a socially-responsible developer, we are committed to engaging with and supporting the communities where we build. While regenerating this disused brownfield site, and creating new homes for local families which will provide significant benefits in themselves, we believe it is important to have a positive impact in other ways.
“Establishing an ongoing relationship with Bridgewater Community Primary School aligns very much with this ethos. It was a great pleasure to welcome Samantha Robson and Adam Beechey to Benwell Dene so we could show them the work that has taken place so far as well as exploring ways in which we can assist the school while this regeneration project is being delivered.
“They were fully engaged during a guided tour of the site and were interested to hear about our plans to build homes which will feature air source heat pumps and solar panels to help residents reduce their energy use while also helping to lower carbon emissions.
“Through a programme of continuous engagement with the school, our aim is to help the staff give their pupils a more rounded, richer journey though the very important earlier years of their education.”
Phil Jones, Head of Land and Partnerships for the North East region of Lovell
“Engaging with young people about development and construction at an early stage is important not only to help demystify the industry and showcase the diverse range of skills involved, but also potentially inspire future careers. There’s a huge range of opportunities in the built environment, across engineering and design to sustainability, project management and more.”
“With such high demand for housing across the UK, our sector needs to do more to attract the best talent, ensuring we have the skilled workforce required to meet the demand in the future. And while the pupils at Bridgewater might not be putting hard hats on just yet, we hope to highlight how the skills they’re learning in the classroom will be important in the future.”
Phil Jones, Development Director for Placefirst
“It was a privilege to be able to visit the site. Affordable, rented family homes are much needed in the west end of Newcastle, and we are really pleased this is happening so close to our school.
“Placefirst have a focus on developing a sense of community which is welcomed, and it will complement the work already happening at The Rise.
“We look forward to working closely with both Lovell and Placefirst with the children to develop their knowledge of the career opportunities working in construction as well as other links to the curriculum. Our School
Council are excited about visiting the site and being involved in a poster competition.”
Samantha Robson, Headteacher at Bridgewater School
