Scores of local people are beginning life in their new homes as the final house in a 56 property scheme in Berwick is completed.
The Yourston family are the latest to get the keys to their new home, transforming their lives after facing an uncertain future when their private landlord called time on their rental.
Seton Gardens – originally known as Seton Hall – is the first new affordable housing built in Berwick for over ten years, helping tackle an urgent local demand.
In total, 56 homes have been delivered in the £13.5m scheme led by Bernicia with its partner Advance Northumberland, supported by funding from Homes England and Northumberland County Council.
People with a local connection were prioritised for the homes – a mix of two and three bedroom bungalows and two, three and four bedroom houses, for rent or shared ownership.
Seton Gardens properties are at social rent levels which are significantly below that of private sector rents in the local area.
Kerrie Yourston, 52, her husband Steven, 59 and children Macy, 18, ten-year-old Noah and their dog Hollie, are moving into their new three bedroom home.
“I was over the moon when Alex from Bernicia called to say we’d been accepted for a home, I was crying, I couldn’t believe it, we didn’t know where we would go,” said Kerrie, who works as a care worker with vulnerable adults.
“Bernicia has been a godsend. It’s been three months of hell. Noah’s been worried about where he would go but now he’s excited he gets to stay and play with his friends.”
Steven, Berwick born and bred and a local factory worker, said: “It’s unreal that we’ve got this place. We were really struggling to find a three bedroom home which are the hardest to come by.”
Northumberland County Council Leader Councillor Glen Sanderson said: “Seton Gardens is an absolutely fantastic development, delivered by Bernicia with Advance Northumberland and Northumberland County Council.
“The homes were definitely needed, we know they were definitely needed as all have been taken within a year of the work starting, it’s a great development and people will really enjoying living here.
” I’m very proud that Advance Northumberland and the County Council have worked so well with Bernica to deliver these super houses in Berwick which have all been taken so quickly – I hope we might keep this kind of partnership in future and do more.”
Ward Councillor Georgina Hill said: “This is a fantastic development in creating much needed houses for families in Berwick. We’re really short of social housing here and elsewhere so that’s why it’s so fantastic that Bernicia, with the support of Advance Northumberland and the county council, have come together to create this much needed development.”
Steven Harrison, Advance Northumberland Chief Executive, said: “It is really touching to see the Yourston family enter their new home for the first time, to see how excited their son was, which makes me proud to work for Advance Northumberland.”
Jeff Boyd, Bernicia Development Director, said: “We’ve had a hugely positive response in Berwick to the new homes and seeing the reaction of people moving in reinforces how important a good home is in people’s lives.”
Bernicia has secured a £100m loan from Barclays Bank which will underpin the building of up to 1,000 new affordable homes over the next five years.
