More than 100 new affordable homes could be built on vacant land at Lansbury Drive in the Elisabethville area of Birtley, Tyne and Wear. The Gateshead Regeneration Partnership is seeking permission to develop the site, which has been empty for over 20 years. This project is a major step in a 20-year plan to build 2,000 new homes across the borough.
The development at Lansbury Drive would cover 2.8 hectares and feature 14 one-bedroom, 51 two-bedroom, and 41 three-bedroom properties. Gateshead Council intends to buy all 106 homes once they are finished to use as council housing. This addition is particularly important as the council is currently unable to deliver a five-year supply of new housing for local residents.
Council planning officers have recommended that councillors approve the project during a meeting at Gateshead Civic Centre on Wednesday, 25 March 2026. While the project is recommended for approval, it has received 27 objections from members of the public. Residents have expressed concerns over the potential for loud construction noise, the loss of existing green space, and the feeling that the area is being over-developed.
Despite these concerns, the council highlights that the project will bring significant economic benefits to the local area. The build is expected to create 138 construction jobs and five apprenticeship opportunities for local people. The development is also predicted to generate £19.8 million in economic value and bring in £273,286 in extra council tax each year once the homes are occupied.
The Home Group and Vistry are working alongside the council to deliver these homes on land that was previously cleared of housing between 1997 and 2003. This partnership was created specifically to build on difficult sites that have remained empty due to high costs or technical issues. So far, the group has already completed 570 homes across 10 different sites in the region.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
