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Work gets underway on new 124-apartment Extra care scheme in South Shields

Construction has begun on a new Extra Care scheme on Benton Road in South Shields, designed to help those with differing levels of care and support needs to live well and independently for longer. 

Built on the site of the former Chuter Ede school and Ede Community Association, we're developing this much-needed specialist accommodation in partnership with South Tyneside Council. 

The 124-apartment scheme will help address the lack of supported accommodation options in the borough, available to those over the age of 18 with additional needs for independent living. 

Zoey Hawthorne, Group Director of Development at Karbon Homes, said: “It’s fantastic to be on site marking the start of our second Extra Care scheme in partnership with South Tyneside Council.  

“This is the largest Extra Care scheme we’ve delivered to date, bringing affordable, quality and efficient homes that meet the needs of the local area. 

“One of our key ambitions for this project is to provide homes that cater for a diverse mix of residents, from young adults with additional needs to those living with dementia.” 

With Robertson Construction North East appointed as the lead contractor, the 124 apartments will sit across four storeys, laid out around a central communal courtyard. 

Designed by Tyne and Wear based JDDK Architects, 25 of the apartments are specifically designed for people living with dementia. 

The scheme will also have multi-use spaces for activities, which will be open for community groups to use, alongside a bistro café open to the general public.  

Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council said: “It’s exciting to be breaking ground here at Benton Road, on the second of our new Extra Care schemes in the borough. 

“Residents have consistently told us that they want to remain living independently in their own communities for as long as possible, rather than moving into residential care.  

“That’s why we’re committed to providing a range of specialist accommodation options across South Tyneside so that people with different needs can remain living with support in the borough, staying connected to the places and people that matter most to them.” 

The scheme will be highly energy efficient, with heating and hot water to be powered by air source heat pumps, with additional energy generated through roof mounted solar PV panels.  

Benton Road will be the second Extra Care facility built by Robertson for the partners, the first being a 95-apartment scheme in Hebburn town centre.  

Elliot Robertson, Chief Executive Officer, Robertson Group, said: “Extra Care provision plays an incredibly important societal role and to be delivering a second scheme for Karbon and South Tyneside Council demonstrates their confidence in our team to create high-quality, sustainable homes that offer a supportive place to live.

“Karbon has developed an Extra Care model that combines specialist design, flexible care provision and community access, giving residents greater independence while ensuring support is available when required. It is with a great sense of pride that we can continue our relationships to deliver a building that enables this model to work in practice, contributes to long term care provision across the region and brings additional community wealth through our work on site.”  

Its delivery will be part-funded by Homes England, through our Strategic Partnership with the Government’s housing delivery agency.   

This strategic partnership is supporting us to deliver 2,324 new affordable homes across the North East and Yorkshire by 2028, 10% of which will be new homes for people requiring additional support needs. 

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