New homes with built-in sukkah planned for Gateshead

A new development proposal for 20 large affordable homes with a built-in sukkah has been unveiled for the strictly Orthodox community of Gateshead.

The houses would be large enough to accommodate extended families and include a room with a sukkah, a retractable roof, and kitchens compatible with the observance of kosher dietary practices, including two sinks and sufficient counter space.

Together with local developers and Gateshead Council, the innovative public/private partnership project is being led by Agudas Israel Housing Association (AIHA), which owns over 900 homes for struggling Orthodox Jewish families.

AIHA operates primarily in London and Salford, with general needs housing, supported and sheltered housing, and care homes, but this is the charity’s first project in the north-east of England, where there is a large yeshiva.

The Orthodox Jewish community of Gateshead is the third largest in Britain and one of the most important seats of Jewish further and higher education in the world. During term-time, the town’s Orthodox population rockets by around 5,000.

A recent Gateshead Neighbourhood Plan identified more larger houses as a key Orthodox community need. “Jewish family households tend to be larger than average, and the internal requirements can be difficult to achieve in an area of terraced houses and flats with small garden spaces and backyards,” it said.

“The cultural needs of the community require the housing provision to be convenient for the synagogue and educational establishments, again putting pressures upon the housing stock.”

Chaya Spitz, chief executive of AIHA, said: “This carefully planned scheme comes after many years of joint working by our colleagues from Gateshead Regeneration Partnership and the local Jewish community. We are delighted to be joining and hopefully enabling it to come to fruition.”