Bringing Southernwood Promoting Independence Centre Building Back Into Use

Starts: 21 January 2025

Ends: 17 February 2025

Description

Proposals are being brought forward to bring the former Southernwood Promoting Independence Centre building on Trafford in the Allerdene Estate, Low Fell back into use. The building has stood empty for several months, and the proposals could see the property once again become a residential site, integrating fully with the local community and delivering wide ranging benefits and positive social impact.

Having worked in partnership for many years to provide dedicated, effective and well-managed housing schemes and support services for young adults, Tyne Housing Association and Gateshead Council are jointly proposing to convert the existing Southernwood building. The conversion will offer 14 modern, self-contained and supported flats/apartments for some of our most vulnerable young people aged between 18-25 years old.

Like the former care home building, Tyne Housing Association will ensure the scheme is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as giving a commitment that it will be well run and managed. This will enable those living there to feel safe, reassured and comfortable in their own environment, to become part of the wider community and have support to hand at all times, if needed.

We have included some 'Frequently asked questions' below, which provide further information about the proposals.

Separate from this consultation, Tyne Housing have developed a planning application including plans and other information about how Southernwood would look and how Tyne Housing would run the premises. That is an independent process from this consultation. Further information is available in the frequently asked questions below.

Have your say

You can indicate what impact you feel the proposal will have, whether or not you are in agreement with the proposal at this stage, and provide any comments you may have by clicking on the 'Take Part' button below:

Take part  >

You can also come along to one of our drop-in sessions to discuss the proposal and ask any questions you may have of staff from both Gateshead Council and Tyne Housing Association. There's no need to register for these, simply turn up between the times shown below.

Documents

None.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Who is Tyne Housing?
Tyne Housing is a Newcastle-based charitable housing association and a registered provider of social housing across Tyneside and Northumberland. With over 50 years' experience, it has built a highly successful and reputable track record delivering specialist accommodation and support services for vulnerable adults and young people.

Tyne Housing is regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing, and as such must publish the results of its Tenant Satisfaction Measures. This can be seen in the Tyne Talk Newsletter.

Q. What does Tyne Housing do?
Tyne Housing provides safe, high-quality homes that also includes shared and self-contained supported accommodation, general needs properties as well as 24/7 emergency accommodation in various locations across the North East. This also includes the provision of essential and wider support services for vulnerable young adults whose specific needs are often unmet, but with Tyne Housing's ongoing support, can begin to live independently with fulfilled, successful and meaningful lives.

Q. What is the proposal for Southernwood?
Tyne Housing propose for the existing detached building to be converted into a new modern, residential scheme that offers housing to young adults needing additional support. This is not a demolition and new build, but rather full conversion of the existing building.

Plans are for 14, one-bedroom, self- contained flats across two floors in a courtyard setting. This includes 'move on' properties for people ready to seek work, along with some flats for young people with more complex needs. All encourage a positive and final transition for individuals to start living independently.

The building will also include staff workspaces, communal areas, outdoor green space and a private courtyard area.

Q. Who will live there?
Residents will be young adults (male and female) who require a place to live as well as some additional day-to-day support to thrive. They will be vulnerable adults aged between 18 and 25 years old who have experienced life challenges, difficulties and/or homelessness prior to engaging with Tyne Housing. All will have a local connection to the Gateshead area and will be referred through Gateshead Council's Housing Options Team.

Q. Why here?
A number of potential sites were considered and a comprehensive evaluation made for each. Southernwood was identified and following due diligence by Tyne Housing in relation to site location, cost of conversion and value for money, considered to be fit-for-purpose and the most suitable. The site is in close proximity to local amenities and has good public transport links that will also enable residents to travel to work or places of learning easily. It will enable an empty, disused site to be brought back to life.

Southernwood also offers an existing 'residential layout' that is suitable for a high-quality conversion, with outdoor spaces to promote positive health and wellbeing. Existing shrubbery will provide natural privacy and there will be fencing surrounding the overall site. Access will be via a main entrance which will be managed full-time by onsite staff.

Q. Is it necessary?
A shortage of accommodation for persons who are deemed vulnerable or have experienced homelessness at some stage in their lives has been identified within Gateshead. Gateshead Council, alongside Tyne Housing Association, applied for funding from the UK Government's Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme to deliver a solution to this issue. In partnership, capital funding was awarded to develop an appropriate housing scheme and provide the revenue funding which will provide onsite staffing once open.

There is a clear need for this accommodation type and it is anticipated that  this scheme would  proactively support young local adults in the best way possible and help them thrive.

Without this scheme, the council would need to source alternative accommodation, likely to be much less suited to supporting young people, especially when helping them work towards independence.

Q. What impact will this scheme have on the local community?
The plans for Southernwood will bring many benefits to the immediate area including jobs creation (both in terms of construction as well as staff being employed onsite 24/7 once open), additional investment and spending.

A close relationship with neighbours and the wider community is very much encouraged. Furthermore, the scheme will also bring a disused building back into use.

Tyne Housing plan that the scheme will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as giving a commitment that it will be well run and managed.

As part of its ethos, Tyne Housing has made a 'Community Pledge' - this is a commitment to the places, people and the communities in which the organisation operates. Tyne Housing pledges to help create local employment opportunities, to prioritise local businesses, care for its neighbours, care for its communities, and maintain high property and environmental standards at all times.

Please see Our Pledge To The Community for more details.

This pledge is a key priority for Tyne Housing and Gateshead Council, underpinning social values and everything both organisations do to help Gateshead residents thrive, enabling us to best support vulnerable people when they need it most.

Q. When will the plans be decided and how can I find out more information?
A planning application has been developed by Tyne Housing and will be submitted for consideration by the Local Planning Authority. The planning application will include plans and other information about how Southernwood would look and how Tyne Housing would run the premises. This is an independent process, and you will be able to say what you like or dislike about the proposed development. You'll be able to find out how, and when, the planning application is available to view, and make your comments on it, in a number of ways; you may receive a direct notification (if you live in the immediate vicinity), or see one of the notices that will be put up at and around Southernwood and there will also be an advert in the press. Anyone can comment on the planning application and your views will be taken into account before a decision is made on whether to grant planning permission. You can visit the Council's Planning Portal here.

Contact

Amanda Reed
housinggrowth@gateshead.gov.uk