The scheme has been on the drawing board for six months and the masterplan was approved by the council's cabinet committee last week. One-fifth of the homes will be affordable. The development also includes schools, roads, shops, parks and leisure facilities.
Regeneration and funding strategies will be produced before work starts next autumn.
Places for People's project leader Anne Mulroy said: "It's a wonderful opportunity. There is a strong sense of community in Walker Riverside, which is a real asset and a strong basis on which to build the regeneration of the area. We want the existing community to remain in the area – we don't want to see it broken down and split up.
We want the community to remain in the area – we don’t want to see it broken down
Anne Mulroy, Places for People
"It is very much a step-by-step approach. We are trying to take the community with us throughout the whole process."
The 61 ha site already holds about 7000 homes – three-quarters of which are council-owned. Places for People expects to demolish some of them but has made a commitment to build the new houses first wherever possible.
Councillor Tony Flynn, leader of Newcastle council, said: "Walker Riverside is one of the key elements of our city-wide regeneration strategy. It's about improving quality of life for the existing community."
Source
Housing Today
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