Long-awaited redevelopment of Scotswood finally launches

Newcastle City Council has announced the redevelopment of a derelict area - 14 years after demolition took place.
The council, acting together with Barratt Homes and Keepmoat Homes as the New Tyne West Development Company, confirmed that Scotswood, to the west of Newcastle, would undergo a £265 million transformation over the next two decades. 
Scotswood, says chroniclelive.co.uk, 'has long been plagued by patches of dereliction', where an area of housing below Whickham View was targeted for demolition. The new development, poignantly called The Rise, will comprise 1,800 affordable eco-friendly homes. Over 100 properties have been pre-sold already.
The announcement comes not a moment too soon, as demolition of the original homes took place back in 2000. At the time, according to guardian.co.uk, the displaced residents were told that building work would occur within two years. 
Local residents may have celebrated but many had mixed feelings, remembering the day they heard the news. Nelly Ternant, one resident who has fought to keep the community spirit alive, remembered the call that came on 6 June - their own D-Day. "I couldn't speak, I was crying so much," she said.
Fellow neighbour Audrey Bushell was more positive, saying that the development was "a dream come true."
"They have done a great job and I'm very happy for the people who can move into [the houses]," she said. "It's a new era for Scotswood and a new era for Newcastle."