As Gateshead Council plan to demolish 440 homes in Saltwell and Bensham the sad truth is that new housing developments really are not that great. At least that is opinion of the Government's own housing watchdog.
Over the last five years CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) has been surveying new housing. The result is that CABE rate 82% of new build property as poor. Some are so poor that CABE believe they should not have received planning permission. Designer Wayne Hemmingway agreed with CABE on BBC Radio 4 and added that many developments were "souless". Not the sort of place for building lasting communities.
Yet Gateshead Council go out of their way to promote the idea that old property is bad and that new property is good. A position at odds with design experts and CABE.
Just a few weeks ago Saltwell and Bensham Residents Association tried to ask Gateshead Councillors about their proposals for what would replace the 440 demolished property. The Council Leader sidestepped the question but did mention consultation. However the CABE results indicate that more than 4 out 5 new properties are of poor quality. The madness is that homes with character that were built to such high standards they are occupied after 100 years are to be demolished and replaced with poor quality development constructed at the whim of Goverment targets..
It seems a case of never mind the quality just look at the profits for housing developers.
Links:
CABE Survey
CABE Homepage
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