By Chris Story

Last updated at 17:10, Friday, 16 December 2011

Interest is growing in new rented homes being built as part of Penrith’s landmark New Squares scheme.

Affordable homes were demanded as a key component of the long-awaited project to create a modern shopping area in the town.

Social landlord Riverside is now preparing to release properties being built in the £3 million first phase of the homes side of the development.

The houses and flats are being built either side of the already-opened Saisnbury’s supermarket at the heart of the regeneration scheme, centred on the Southend Road area.

A delegation of Eden councillors this week got a glimpse of the progress being made before people on the area’s housing list heard more about the potential for living there at an open afternoon.

Jayne Grant, a development officer with Riverside, said: “This [New Squares] is an important development.

“It is bringing jobs for people. Those living in the houses have to have a local connection, ensuring the people of Penrith have some kind of benefit.”

The first phase – in Kilgour Street and All-Weights House – is made up of 28 new homes for rent. All the streets have been named in honour of the area’s links with Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling.

This phase is made up of 18 two-bedroom flats for the over-55s, six three-bedroom houses and four two-bedroom houses.

Riverside, which is already responsible for thousands of homes in the Carlisle district, is also in talks about taking on a second phase of 18 more homes, which would include some for shared ownership.

Before this week’s talks, more than 800 people registered on the Choice Lettings system for people looking for socially-rented accommodation.

Even before the doors opened for the open afternoon in Penrith Leisure Centre on Tuesday, 200 people had contacted Riverside about it. The event was attended by 85 people.

Ms Grant said: “This is a way of letting people know the development will become available in January. It also gives people a feel for what it’s about.”

All the homes are built to top energy efficiency standards – a money-saving factor that Riverside hopes will be attractive to would-be tenants. Those measures include air source heat pumps.

High property prices have meant that affordable homes have long been an issue in Eden.

Ms Grant hopes the new town centre homes will help alleviate some of the pressure.

She added: “This is a fantastic scheme and has generated a lot of interest in the community.”

People of all ages and with various needs heard more about the plans from Riverside staff. Emily Sproat, 22, was among them.

She has been on the housing waiting list for two years – currently renting in the private sector – and said: “I’m looking for somewhere different from where I am at the moment, somewhere better.”

Eden council chairman Joan Raine was among those who looked around the new houses this week.

She believed they were in-keeping with the character of Penrith, adding: “I was impressed with the light and space and the fact they are so close to all the amenities.”

Riverside director Patrick Leonard also met Eden council chief executive Robin Hooper to discuss the development on Tuesday.

First published at 14:07, Friday, 16 December 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk