Karbon Homes has been working closely with award winning architects JDDK to draw up the plans for the new £4m building, which will provide 34 new one and two bed apartments.
The plans for the building, designed to replace the existing Athol House on Callerton Lane, have been approved by Northumberland County Council.
The proposed new development has been designed to occupy a similar footprint to the existing building, but elevated slightly above the current ground floor level to ensure flood safety, given the proximity of the River Pont, and moved slightly further from neighbouring properties to ensure no loss of privacy.
Karbon consulted extensively with the local community, parish and county councillors, before agreeing the scale and style of the new building. A consultation session was held in November 2018 to allow the architects to hear community concerns, and the plans have been adjusted accordingly.
All Athol House residents were rehoused to alternative accommodation of their choice and were offered extensive support to ensure they were rehoused satisfactorily. All residents were appropriately compensated for the disruption of moving house.
The existing Athol House building was built with many small, bedsit-style flats, which did not meet modern standards – or residents’ aspirations.
The proposed new building will provide affordable good sized homes – 28 two bed apartments, 6 one bed apartments, compared to the smaller homes in the old building.
The new building has been designed to encourage social interaction between the residents, and to offer them a sense of peace and relaxation.
The architects were asked to provide a development which meets local housing needs, and is also in keeping with the look and feel of the village, since the site sits just outside the Ponteland conservation area.
Sarah Robson, director of development and regeneration for Karbon Homes, said: “We’ve tried to put forward a development which meets the needs of the local community for high quality, affordable housing for older people.
“We listened to the views of local residents and made some adjustments to our original proposals to reflect their views.
“The building is intended to sit comfortably in this location, retaining mature trees around the site, and not being sited too close to neighbouring properties.”
Karbon Homes has been working closely with award winning architects JDDK to draw up the plans for the new £4m building, which will provide 34 new one and two bed apartments.
The plans for the building, designed to replace the existing Athol House on Callerton Lane, have been approved by Northumberland County Council.
The proposed new development has been designed to occupy a similar footprint to the existing building, but elevated slightly above the current ground floor level to ensure flood safety, given the proximity of the River Pont, and moved slightly further from neighbouring properties to ensure no loss of privacy.
Karbon consulted extensively with the local community, parish and county councillors, before agreeing the scale and style of the new building. A consultation session was held in November 2018 to allow the architects to hear community concerns, and the plans have been adjusted accordingly.
All Athol House residents were rehoused to alternative accommodation of their choice and were offered extensive support to ensure they were rehoused satisfactorily. All residents were appropriately compensated for the disruption of moving house.
The existing Athol House building was built with many small, bedsit-style flats, which did not meet modern standards – or residents’ aspirations.
The proposed new building will provide affordable good sized homes – 28 two bed apartments, 6 one bed apartments, compared to the smaller homes in the old building.
The new building has been designed to encourage social interaction between the residents, and to offer them a sense of peace and relaxation.
The architects were asked to provide a development which meets local housing needs, and is also in keeping with the look and feel of the village, since the site sits just outside the Ponteland conservation area.
Sarah Robson, director of development and regeneration for Karbon Homes, said: “We’ve tried to put forward a development which meets the needs of the local community for high quality, affordable housing for older people.
“We listened to the views of local residents and made some adjustments to our original proposals to reflect their views.
“The building is intended to sit comfortably in this location, retaining mature trees around the site, and not being sited too close to neighbouring properties.”
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