Byker Community Trust develops homes for veterans

Major general David Shaw and Jill Haley from the Byker Community Trust Maj Gen David Shaw and Jill Haley from the Byker Community Trust oversaw work at the site on Friday

Sheltered housing on Tyneside is being converted into specialist accommodation for armed services veterans.

Work has started on 35 homes for ex-servicemen and women in Byker, Newcastle.

The scheme is being developed by the Byker Community Trust and Armed Forces and Veterans Estates.

The trust said 750 veterans were currently looking for a home in the city.

Veterans will be able to live in the properties for up to two years after leaving the forces.

Building work is being funded in part by a £250,000 Armed Forces Community Covenant grant and it is expected the properties will be complete by the summer.

The trust took over management of the Byker estate from social landlord Your Homes Newcastle last year.

Major General David Shaw, director of Armed Forces and Veterans Estates, said the project was "unprecedented".

More on This Story

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites

BBC Tyne & Wear

Weather

Tyne & Wear

Min. Night 4 °C

Features & Analysis

Elsewhere on BBC News

  • Donald TrumpWinning business

    Why trying to become a successful entrepreneur has never been more fashionable

Programmes

  • A Chinese woman drinking red wineTalking Movies Watch

    Tom Brook looks at Red Obsession, a film which charts China's thirst for red wine

BBC © 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.