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Issue Date: 4th July 2006
SURVEY REVEALS PEOPLE LOVE LIVING IN NEWCASTLEGATESHEAD
People in some of the most urban areas of Newcastle and Gateshead love living there and are the happiest people around - a housing survey has revealed.
The survey by Bridging NewcastleGateshead (BNG) shows that people already living within the BNG area are happier than those living outside the area and want to stay if the right housing can be provided for them. But despite this evidence, limited or negative perceptions of some BNG areas still persist from outsiders.
The survey, which assessed the views of more than 1,500 people, was carried out to gather information on the needs and aspirations of new house buyers in and around the Bridging NewcastleGateshead (BNG) pathfinder area. The BNG area includes Scotswood, Benwell and Walker in Newcastle and Dunston, Teams and Bensham in Gateshead. This information will be used to inform BNG's new build strategy to ensure it builds high-quality new homes in the areas that people want and need.
As well as showing that local people want to stay in their current location, the survey revealed that house size, design quality and value for money were the top factors for existing residents when considering purchasing a new home. People also wanted plenty of open space integrated into any new housing developments and easy access to shops, public transport, leisure activities and services.
The survey has helped BNG to identify the key target markets for its new homes in the early years of the programme, including young professional singles, couples, families with young children and householders with existing ties to the area.
Anne Mulroy, Director of Bridging NewcastleGateshead said: "The findings of this survey have proved invaluable in helping us to better understand the needs and wants of the people buying newly built homes.
"As well as helping us to understand which market segments we should target in the earlier stage of our new housing programme, the study has shown us that we need to market the areas to change negative perceptions.
"However it is gratifying to find that those people who know their neighbourhood best, love living there and a key priority for us will be to support the local community by providing them and their adult children with the right housing so they can stay in the area."
For a copy of the full report, email info@bridgingng.org.uk