£6million housing development takes shape on outskirts of Hartlepool

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Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, work has been progressing on the Station Manor development in Greatham, which will feature family homes and bungalows.

Karbon Homes has worked with local development partner Gus Robinson Developments in Hartlepool and specialist contractor Applebridge, based in Middlesbrough, to provide the properties.

Developers have said the new homes off Station Road will fit ‘seamlessly into the character’ of the area and be a ‘high level of design quality’.

Some components for the new development, such as chimneys, arrive on site already complete – ready to be craned into position when required.

Plans were initially given the go-ahead by councillors in September 2019, despite 20 objections being submitted by residents raising concerns such as over-development of the area and potential increases in traffic.

Zoey Hawthorne, assistant director of development delivery at Karbon Homes, has praised the new homes, stating good progress has been made on the site, despite the impact of the pandemic.

She said: “We are excited to deliver this new affordable housing development in Greatham.

“The finished properties are a very high standard, and we know there’s demand locally for high quality affordable homes.”

How some of the exteriors look on the near complete homes at Station Manor, Greatham.

She added the homes have been developed using insulated concrete formwork, meaning residents will see a reduced spend on heating, even in the cold winter months, due to the high standard of insulation.

Properties in the new development will be available for affordable rent, as well as for rent to buy, and Homes England have provided grant funding to contribute to the cost of construction.

Residents in the affordable rent and rent to buy homes will pay 80% of the local market rent for their homes, with rent to buy customers having an option to buy the home after five years.

The 36 homes have been given a traditional looking exterior, with a façade looking like a conventional brick finish and render to match the local area, according to developers.

Shaun Nixon from Karbon Homes checking on progress, checking an ICF wall after concrete has been poured into the structure of one of the new homes.

It comes after Karbon and Gus Robinson worked closely together to ensure construction work could continue in a Covid-secure fashion during 2020 and into the new year.

Stephen Bell, from Gus Robinson Developments said: “There is a clear drive to build homes with greater levels of energy efficiency, and which can be built in new and innovative ways.

“This scheme achieves both and also brings a high level of design quality to the picturesque village of Greatham.

“Despite needing to change our site processes through the development because of Covid, the Gus Robinson team, supported in no small way by our partners at Karbon Homes, have delivered an exemplar project.”

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