Work is underway at our latest housing development, Cricketers Hill, which is being built in the Carley Hill area of Sunderland.
Working in partnership with RE:GEN, the development will consist of 115 homes including two, three and four bedroom houses, two bedroom bungalows and two bedroom apartments.
In partnership with Sunderland City Council, Gentoo was awarded a £1.95 million grant from the Brownfield Land Release Fund 2 delivered by the One Public Estate Programme.
The new development will see a 4.28-hectare brownfield site redeveloped for affordable housing that was previously the site of Carley Hill Education Centre.
As part of our commitment to carbon reduction, the new homes will be built with sustainable technology featuring air source heat pumps, smart meters, photo-voltaic panels, full fill cavity wall insulation and electric vehicle charging points.
The homes at Cricketers Hill will be available for affordable rent, Shared Ownership and Rent to Buy.
Cricketers Hill is the launch pad for Rent to Buy with Gentoo. The scheme makes it easier for aspiring homeowners to save for a deposit to buy their home in the future by paying affordable rent, which is calculated at 20% less than market rents for the area. Over time, customers will be offered the chance to buy their home outright or through Shared Ownership.
Louise Buckton, Construction Director at Gentoo said: “Our new development at Carley Hill marks Gentoo’s tenth affordable development across the city, showing our dedication to providing much needed affordable homes in Sunderland.
“We are delighted to be working alongside RE:GEN to provide our customers with brand new homes they can access in a variety of ways including affordable rent, Shared Ownership and Rent to Buy.”
Lee Francis, CEO of RE:GEN Group, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded this contract from Gentoo.
“This project not only symbolises our strength and offering in the social housing space across regeneration and new build, but reflects more than two years of a brilliant partnership we’ve enjoyed with the team at Gentoo, who continue to put their trust and confidence in our team to deliver for them, and their customers.
"A scheme of this size will of course come with its challenges, but through adopting a truly collaborative approach with Gentoo, key partners and the wider supply chain, we will deliver an amazing project for everyone to be proud of."
Councillor Kevin Johnston, Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet Member for Dynamic City, said: “The new Cricketers Hill development is helping to bring new affordable homes to Sunderland, which is a key priority as we strive to make the city a more dynamic, healthy, and vibrant place to live.
“The City Council is delighted to be working closely with Gentoo as they continue to bring more affordable and sustainable housing to Sunderland.”
Funded by HM Government via the Brownfield Land Release Funding (BLRF2)
