07 May 2026
Places for People and Vistry form joint venture to deliver 236 homes in North Shields
Places for People (PfP) and Vistry have formed a joint venture to bring forward a further 236 new homes at Smiths Dock in North Shields. The next phase of the development will deliver a range of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes, with a clear focus on providing family housing. The site will provide a coastal living opportunity and an extension to the community of the increasingly popular Fish Quay. Proposals will include generous landscaping adjacent to the river, providing a pleasant walking route connecting to the Fish Quay to the North and the Royal Quays Marina to the South.
Located on the site of the former Swan Hunter shipbuilders, the homes will be built and sold by Linden Homes with marketing to reflect the rich heritage of the site. A number of the docks on site have now been sealed and will be built upon as part of the proposals with a central dock remaining open, providing a unique feature on site.
The historic brownfield site has been earmarked for development for more than 20 years, but due to remediation challenges it has lain dormant during this time. By combining their expertise, PfP and Vistry have successfully unlocked the site and will be seeking to work closely with North Tyneside Council to secure planning consent for a viable scheme which will offer attractive family housing in a very desirable location. Pre-application discussions are commencing with the Council with a planning submission targeted for later this summer.
Nilam Buchanan, Regional Managing Director for Central and North at Places for People, said: “This is an important step forward for the future of Smith’s Dock, by bringing together shared expertise and ambition to deliver much-needed homes in this unique location. The partnership will allow for the delivery of a range of high-quality homes, thoughtfully designed around a vibrant central hub where residents can enjoy convenience, a strong sense of community and an excellent quality of life.”
Sean Egan, Regional Managing Director of Vistry North East, said: “Smiths Dock is a perfect example of how we can use our regeneration and partnership skills to unlock stalled development, delivering a significant number of quality new homes whilst breathing new life into a major brownfield site. It also demonstrates the wider strengths of the Group as we can use one of our retail housebuilding brands to market the homes.”