Best New Housing Development

Brockwell Grove and Newbiggin Lane provides 18 accessible homes for rent for older people, with a mix of six two-bedroom bungalows, six one-bedroom Tyneside flats and six two-bedroom Tyneside flats all designed to promote individual living and social inclusion. The site, in the Westerhope area, was the first of five to be completed in the first phase of Newcastle City Council's plans which will increase the number of new homes for older people across the city. In total, phase 1 provides 148 new dwellings with a second phase due to add a further 199 new homes.

All the schemes cater to a variety of residents' needs and aim to provide high quality affordable homes for living independently as far as possible. Developments not only provide much needed, quality accommodation, but also create connecting areas for residents to socialise.

Designed to Housing Quality Standard (HQM) 3 star, the amount of daylight in homes, air quality and green spaces were all carefully considered throughout the development. In addition there are electric charge points and ecological enhancements - bat and bird boxes, hedgehog domes and extra tree and shrub planting. PV panels helped to achieve an A-Rated EPC for all properties and at handover, end-users were given guidance on use of energy controls and ventilation to minimise their energy use.