South Shields' Member of Parliament has publicly criticised the price range of new homes planned for the former South Tyneside College site, warning that the development risks putting housing out of reach for local people.
Prices alarm MP amid local affordability squeeze
Emma Lewell said she was concerned that homes being marketed at the Scholars Park development are priced higher than many residents can afford. The first release of plots by Miller Homes North East shows a top price of £599,000 and a starting price of £285,000 on the 9.3-hectare site.
Under the planning permission for the scheme a total of 198 houses may be built, but there is no requirement in that permission for the developer to provide affordable housing. The council’s emerging Local Plan, which seeks to set housing policy for the borough, also does not mandate affordable housing in this instance and states such provision should be made only ‘where appropriate and viable’.
“I have consistently made the case that what South Shields needs is more genuinely affordable and social housing,”
Ms Lewell told local reporters she has noted the proposals with concern and warned that the mix of homes does not match the needs of many local households. The developer’s initial tranche includes only three-, four- and five-bedroom properties – there are no two-bedroom homes in the first release, despite earlier expectations that smaller units would form part of the scheme.
Local context: prices and demand
Figures quoted alongside the story underline the gap between the new development’s asking prices and typical local values. The Office for National Statistics records the average house price in South Tyneside at £159,000, while an estate agent cited in reporting put the local average closer to £200,000. Councillors and community groups have repeatedly raised concerns about affordability as the borough seeks to accommodate growth.
- Site: former South Tyneside College, Scholars Park
- Site size: 9.3 hectares
- Planned homes: 198 (planning permission)
- Price range released: £285,000 to £599,000
- Affordable housing: none required under current permission
The contrast between the developers’ price points and local averages prompted Ms Lewell to urge house builders to focus less on profit margins and more on meeting local need. She highlighted the pressure on first-time buyers and families who are being priced out of the market.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cheapest homes released at Scholars Park | £285,000 |
| Most expensive homes released | £599,000 |
| Average house price (ONS) | £159,000 |
| Local estate agent average (reported) | ~£200,000 |
Town centre campaigners and housing groups in South Shields have for years called for a greater supply of social and affordable homes. The council’s Local Plan, which may be considered by councillors in the coming week, recognises a need for new housing — it identifies an annual requirement of 309 homes a year to 2040 — but leaves developers discretion to include affordable units only where deemed appropriate and viable.
The debate over Scholars Park highlights wider tensions across the north-east between ambitions to regenerate brownfield sites and the need to deliver homes that local people can afford. The former college site is prominent and has long been earmarked for redevelopment; the first phase of private sales now underway has sharpened focus on precisely who those homes are for.
Local residents and prospective buyers will be watching both Miller Homes and South Tyneside Council closely in the weeks ahead, as the council finalises positions on planning policy and as the developer proceeds with marketing the new estate.
This article will be updated with any responses from Miller Homes North East and South Tyneside Council when they are made available.
