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By Angela Hamilton

Senior Staff Writer

8 July 2019

| | 3 min read

Housing

Council housing centenary celebration

Newcastle City Council will celebrate 100 years of council housing with a programme of events to mark the centenary of the Housing and Planning Act 1919.  The Addison Act, as it is commonly known, is recognised as the birth of council housing after it made housing a national responsibility for the first time. 

Kenton Park flats
Kenton Park flats

The City Library will be home to the “From homes fit for heroes to homes of the future” exhibition from 31 July.  The exhibition will reflect on the challenges and success of council housing in Newcastle over the last 100 years, showcase the council homes of today and provide a glimpse into council housing of the future. 

It will be enhanced by a trail of “Building homes and creating communities” satellite exhibitions in locations around the city.  These displays will use memories, images and interactive activities to tell the story of what council housing means to people and communities in areas like Byker, Fawdon, Newbiggin Hall and Scotswood.

The celebrations, which are being delivered with help from residents, community groups, Your Homes Newcastle and Newcastle and Northumbria Universities and with support and sponsorship from businesses including Tolent, IDPartnership, Keepmoat and Ryders, will also include talks, films and interactive community events and activities. 

Councillor Linda Hobson, Cabinet Member for Housing at Newcastle City Council said “Council housing in Newcastle has a fascinating history and a bright future.  It isn’t just about building homes but about creating communities where people can live, raise families and grow older in an environment where they feel comfortable and secure. 

“Almost a quarter of our residents choose to live in a council home so what better way is there of recognising the contribution council housing makes in our city than by celebrating the centenary of the Addison Act without which it may never have existed.”

Mark Massey, Senior Partner Architect at IDPartnership  

"We need to look at ways in which we can deliver and develop a community around people."

Homes for the many

Regional Director for Tolent, Chris Price, said: "Having delivered over £803m of social housing projects it's fitting that we can be a part of this celebration.

"The needs and demands for more affordable housing have changed dramatically over the past 100 years, we're delighted to be working with Newcastle City Council and their stakeholders to continue delivering much needed, high quality homes for now and future generations."

Mark Massey, Senior Partner Architect at IDPartnership said “It is particularly important in this time of social atomisation to be considering how best we can provide homes for the many not for the few.”

If you’ve got a story about living in a council house you’d like to share please email angela.hamilton@newcastle.gov.uk or rebbeca.bolden@newcastle.gov.uk or for more information visit www.newcastle.gov.uk/100yearsofhousing

Council housing in Newcastle has a fascinating history and a bright future.  It isn’t just about building homes but about creating communities

Councillor Linda Hobson

Cabinet Member for Housing