What was once a shipyard is being transformed into a beautiful place to live, with help of TV architect George Clarke and plenty of vision
Until it closed 30 years ago and all fell silent, Smith's Dock in North Shields was a thriving shipyard, a hive of heavy industry which provided work for thousands of skilled men. Now it’s a hive of industry again, as construction workers transform the area into a great place to live, with visions of a vibrant new riverside neighbourhood.
Elevated above the former dockyard, a crescent of contemporary townhouses has been built, tall, roomy houses with big windows and bigger views. The 24 houses on The Plateau have already been completed and are selling quickly, although a few are still available to buy from £299,950
In a more secluded spot, there’s a row of so-called Fab Houses, ten two-storey modular townhouses been designed in collaboration with North-East architect and Channel 4 television presenter George Clarke and TDO Architecture. The design is exclusive to Smith’s Dock, and Places for People and Urban Splash, the joint venture partnership redeveloping Smith’s Dock, have just launched the sale, with prices starting at £225,000.
According to George, they have been designed with families in mind. “What we’re creating here are proper family homes; homes that are spacious, well planned and will encourage family living,” he says. “The plans for the whole area make for a wonderful community. Smith’s Dock is an important historic site and the development is the epitome of true regeneration – with diverse home designs, sensitively designed public spaces and the reopening of the stunning waterfront. When complete, Smith’s Dock is going to be a great neighbourhood to live in and I’m proud that my Fab House design is part of it.”
Each of the Fab Houses has been created using offsite, modular technology. They’re created at a factory facility in the Midlands before making their way up North to be finished on site. Each Fab House has three bedrooms and 930sq ft of living space, with heating, lighting and hot water all controlled by an app.
Explaining his reasons for adopting offsite construction, George says: “Smith’s Dock was the perfect place to show how we can raise the standards of UK homes by adopting innovative modular construction. Innovative building and manufacturing technology have been a fundamental part of the Smith’s Dock site for years through shipbuilding, so for me it was so important that we adopt these same principles on the site for 21st century homebuilding. I’ve been fascinated by the benefits of modular construction for a very long time. I believe that in a country that unfortunately has too many poorly-designed and badly-built homes, this was an obvious route to take.”
Guy Ackernley of Urban Splash, says that having launched the first homes at Smith’s Dock last summer, the company was delighted to unveil George’s Fab Houses. “I know there’s been a keen appetite amongst buyers to see these designs and I can’t wait to share the finished product now that we are open for viewings,” he adds.
Places for People and Urban Splash will soon be releasing the first Smokehouse apartments for sale. The 80 waterfront homes, inspired by the simple smokehouses that once lined Fish Quay, will feature one, two or three-bedrooms and will be joined by the planned workspaces, watersports, retail areas and public parks destined for Smith’s Dock.
It is hoped the shipyard regeneration – 800 units in total – will help underpin North Shields fish quay as a destination location and see it thriving and full of life once again.
Origianl Link - The Northern Echo
