North Star plans £2.9m Stockton affordable rented homes

The council is looking to develop five sites for affordable housing – homes for sale or rent at discounted rates for people whose needs are not met by the private market – as it faces more demand and pressure in trying to prevent homelessness and support vulnerable adults and people leaving care.

Leaders agreed last year to use sites on Raleigh Road, Londonderry Road, Stirling House, Parkside House and Thornaby Baths to deliver between 67 and 114 new homes, with a scheme to use developers’ money for affordable homes hailed as a “baby step” to fix a broken market and housing crisis.

Now the plan for one of the sites has been set out in a report to council leaders. It is proposed to develop “12 units for affordable rent” on the Raleigh Road site – six two-bed bungalows, four one-bed houses and two one-bed bungalows.

These are intended to “support independent living for young people leaving care system and the accommodation needs of vulnerable adults”, with costs estimated at £2.9m. The council says it will not be required to fund the site’s development, nor take ownership of the units.

“However North Star Housing Group will build dwellings that meet our specific needs,” says the report. “They have had a long-term interest in this site having previously developed adjacent land for the provision of 11 bungalows (in 2018) and are keen to work with the council to bring forward a small, second phase of development.”

It goes on to say North Star will apply for a grant from Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency, from its Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

The report adds: “A planning application will not be submitted until contracts have been exchanged to dispose of the land.

“The delivery of the site will be subject to North Star Housing Group securing planning approval, however they are anticipating completion in summer 2027 (following a 12-month build programme).”

Leaders will be asked on Thursday to “approve the disposal of this site to North Star Housing Group to facilitate the delivery of social rented housing”.

The council says it has been exploring the other four sites. All are vacant except Thornaby Baths, which will be vacant after the opening of the forthcoming new leisure centre, gym and pool at Thornaby Pavilion.

It says it found “interest in all three vacant sites for the delivery of 100% affordable housing”. It will carry out a competitive procurement process for the sites to go to a housing provider, will leaders asked to allow that decision to be made by the council’s director of regeneration and inclusive growth Tracey Carter.

The cabinet meeting takes place at 5pm on Thursday, March 12 in the council chamber at Dunedin House, Thornaby.