Current residential communities
Since the decline of heavy industry in the area, the numerous terraces and dwellings in the Valley were demolished by the 1950’s and the residential communities living there were re-housed outside the area.
However, many residential communities in neighbouring Byker and Shieldfield remained and improvements in housing, including the famous Byker Wall, designed by architect Ralph Erskine in the 1970’s, have established quality and affordability in the area.
Today, the Valley is made up of a number of smaller residential communities. New housing developments have been constructed over the last 20 years and housing options will diversify even further over the next 3 to 5 years as new residential units are built on Valley development sites. Plans include quality sustainable family houses as well 1 & 2 bedroom flats, 3/4/5 bedroom houses, homes for sale at market value and social rented housing.
Much of the most recent residential developments have been made up of owner-occupied, private 1-2 bedroom flats. There is currently a dominance of this type of housing in the surrounding area, however emerging housing policy is likely to prefer developments that include family housing (3 or more bedrooms) and affordable housing. The current planning condition for the provision of affordable housing within new developments is 25% of developments which contain 25 or more housing units.
Since 2000, new private housing in the Ouseburn has included developments at St Ann’s (101 flats), St Lawrence Road (107 flats), High Quays, Mariners Wharf and the Rose & Crown (approximately 30 flats at each development respectively.)
Byker Wall
The Byker Wall contains 620 maisonettes of predominantly social housing. The Wall has earned many awards for vision and innovation and has also been placed on UNESCO’s list of outstanding twentieth century buildings. In 2007, the Estate became a grade II* listed building (grade two star).
The whole estate is currently being refurbished by Your Homes Newcastle, the management organisation that looks after the Council’s stock of social housing. The refurbishment scheme involves reinstatement of original features and colour schemes, making use of modern materials where possible, while retaining the look and feel of the 1970’s design scheme.
Housing Advice – Social or rented accommodation
Your Homes Newcastle
w: www.yhn.org.uk
Newcastle Private Rented Project
w: www.privaterentedproject.co.uk
Newcastle Tenants Federation
w: www.newcastletenantsfed.org.uk
For information on buying a property in or around the Ouseburn Valley, see Newcastle estate agents such as:
Sanderson Young
w: www.sandersonyoung.co.uk
Pattinson
w: www.pattinson.co.uk
Northumbrian Estates
w: www.northumbrianestates.com
Bairstow Eves
w: www.bairstoweves.co.uk
King Sturge
w: www.kingsturge.co.uk
Groves
w: www.groves.co.uk