The Lord Mayor of Newcastle visited a new housing development in Benwell to see how construction work there is transforming a former brownfield site.
Councillor Rob Higgins, who represents the Benwell and Scotswood ward on Newcastle City Council, was given a tour of the Benwell Dene scheme by its developer, Placefirst, and contractor Lovell, which is building the project.
The organisations are working in partnership to deliver 146 energy-efficient rental homes at the development on a six-acre site off Delaval Road in the West End of the city.
Phil Jones, Head of Land and Partnerships for the North East region of Lovell, said:
: “We were keen to invite the Lord Mayor of Newcastle to see the work that is taking place at Benwell Dene, as this is an important development not only for the ward which Cllr Higgins represents but also for the city as a whole.
“Providing good quality homes in well thought out neighbourhoods for the rental market allows people to settle in a place they can call home, knowing that everything is taken care of, and they can stay for as long as they want to. This is exactly what Benwell Dene will offer tenants.
“People choose to rent for various reasons and that should not mean that they have to compromise on quality. The homes at Benwell Dene will feature spacious layouts and high specifications, with a variety of designs to suit people with different needs and budgets.
“The visit also provided an opportunity to tell Cllr Higgins all about the development’s environmental credentials, including the measures we are taking to improve biodiversity on the site. In addition to this, each of the homes will have air source heat pumps and solar panels to enable residents to minimise their energy bills and carbon emissions.”
Cllr Higgins said:
“I am excited at the progress being made on this new housing development at Benwell Dene which I was able to visit recently. After many years of decline due to the loss of traditional industries, the West End of Newcastle is now on the rise and housing developments such as this are such a vital part of these ongoing improvements. It will bring new families to the area and our local schools are already beginning to benefit from these changes with rising levels of performance. I am particularly excited at the manner in which Placefirst and Lovell have been engaging closely with both the existing community and local Councillors to bring about further improvements to the surrounding natural environment including the historic Hodgkin Park with the added benefits for all and I look forward to further progress on this exciting development in the months ahead.”
The homes at Benwell Dene will include 119 two and three-storey houses ranging from two to four-bedroom properties. There will be 27 two-bedroom apartments built across nine three-storey buildings. Work is expected to finish in June 2027 and the homes will be managed by Placefirst.
Phil Jones, Development Director at Placefirst, said:
“We were delighted to welcome the Lord Mayor of Newcastle to Benwell Dene and share our vision for this new rental community. Transforming brownfield sites into thriving neighbourhoods is at the heart of what we do at Placefirst, and it was fantastic to showcase the progress being made by Lovell on construction.
“The development will provide high-quality, long-term rental homes that offer security, sustainability, and a strong sense of community – enhancing the already vibrant character of the area and helping to ease housing shortages. We look forward to seeing Benwell Dene take shape and to welcoming our first residents.”
Placefirst, which develops and operates what is known as single-family housing – detached or semi-detached rental homes – appointed the North East region of Lovell as the contractor to build the homes in June 2024, and construction work began last August.
Placefirst tenants have long-term flexible leases, and they are allowed to keep pets in their home. They also benefit from having a dedicated resident services manager and a maintenance team on site.
