The partners behind a new £400,000 development of shops and affordable homes in the heart of Prudhoe have been celebrating a job well done.
Prudhoe Community Partnership worked with Karbon Homes (formerly Isos Housing) to build this impressive new building on the site of the former Windsor Bakery on Front Street, Prudhoe.
The new building is two storeys high and features two ground floor retail units and two first floor, one bedroom flats. It has been built using the Living Over The Shop (LOTS) concept as a way for town centres to be revitalised, and ensure they do not become deserted when most shops close at 5pm.
The project was funded by the two key partners, alongside the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) and Northumberland County Council. The main contractor on the project was SV Rutter.
The former Windsor Bakery had been empty for several years. The building did not meet modern standards for retail or residential use so has now been replaced with a high specification building meeting 21st Century standards.
Prudhoe Community Partnership backed the project as part of wider plans to improve the frontage of shops and businesses on Front Street, and help improve the vibrancy of the town centre.
Now the building is fully occupied with a hairdressing salon and a gaming specialist occupying the two shops and tenants happily moved into the flats.
Eileen Burt of Prudhoe Community Partnership, said: “It has taken a long time to bring this scheme to fruition but it has been well worthwhile. Front Street has two modern shops in a prominent position and the partnership has provided two new homes as well. It all helps bring life into the town centre and make it a more attractive place to live and shop.
Vince Walsh, development and regeneration manager for Isos Housing, said: “This is a great example of the kind of small, community-based scheme we enjoy working on at Karbon Homes. We have worked alongside the local community in Prudhoe to deliver a project which provides both homes and high quality retail premises to help make the town a great place to live.”