A young family has been officially welcomed into their new eco-friendly home at Two Castles Housing Association’s £2.7million Beaumont Court development in Widdrington Station, Northumberland.
Sir Alan Beith, MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, presented resident Abigail Johnson and her three-year-old daughter, Lei, with a commemorativekey and bouquet of flowers at the event organised to celebrate the completion of 22 much-needed affordable homes at the former Willows Public House site.
After previously living in a cramped two-bedroom flat, Abigail and her husband Adam were delighted when Two Castles offered them the opportunity to move into a spacious three bedroom family home for rent at its development.
She said: “Before we moved to Beaumont Court, we were living in a really small flat that was just not suitable for us to grow as a young family or spend quality time together. It was also costing us a lot to live there and the high energy bills just made it harder to afford.
“We’d been looking to move into a more suitable home ever since I found out I was pregnant, so it was a fantastic feeling to be told that we were eligible to move into a modern and spacious family home thanks to Two Castles.
“Our new home has everything you’d need as a family - we now have a large kitchen to eat together in, a garden and our own car parking space. Having my parents living close by in Stobswood is also a big help for when Lei starts school in September.
“The house is also really easy to keep warm, so even though we’ve not lived here long we’ve already noticed a real difference in the cost to our energy bills which helps to make living here more affordable.”
Local MP Sir Alan Beith said: “I am delighted that these energy efficient homes have been built to serve the housing needs of local families.”
Built in partnership with Esh Property Services, the development of two and three bedroom properties to rent was part-funded by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Northumberland County Council.
A number of properties on the development were also constructed to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 standards and include a range of energy efficient features such as photovoltaic solar panels to help reduce overall energy bills and make homes more affordable for residents.
David Halfacre, director of Esh Property Services, said: “Being at the opening of this much heralded scheme is particularly satisfying for me as it marks the completion of the scheme that ‘gave birth’ to our unique partnership with Two Castles Housing Association.
“We’ve worked together to bring much needed affordable homes to Widdrington and I hope the new residents enjoy their new homes and that the community feels the benefit of new folk in the area”.
Rob Brittain, property services director of Two Castles Housing Association, said: “We’re delighted that this development has provided much needed affordable housing for families like Mr and Mrs Johnson in this area.
“Two Castles Housing Association worked closely with Esh Property Services and a number of other partners on this development in order to benefit of the local community.”
Two Castles also worked with HMH Architects and Elliott Associates as Employers Agent in creating the scheme with support from Widdrington Station, Stobswood Parish Council and Area Training and Activity Centre (ATAC).
For more information on Two Castles Housing Association, visit www.twocastles.org.uk.