Plans for acquisition and refurbishment of former HMR housing
A block of 67 properties is to be retained for an innovative private sector led refurbishment
scheme in the Wentworth and Waverley Street area of Phase 1 (see Appendix 2, Plan 1).
The block would be comprehensively improved, and returned to housing stock through rent
or sale. The block would form a natural bridge between the new development planned for
Phase 1 and the existing terraced housing stock.
Progress to Date - St Hilda’s
St Hilda’s forms part of the Greater Middlehaven site adjacent to Middlesbrough Dock. In
2004 a master plan was produced that provided a vision for the future of Greater
Middlehaven, which totals over 100ha. The proposals included comprehensive clearance in
order to regenerate and reposition Middlesbrough and to provide impetus for a
comprehensive revitalisation of the sub-region.
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Bid to the Government For Housing Market Transitional Funding
Significant redevelopment has commenced but the removal of the remaining housing is
critical to the completion of the overall scheme and attraction of investment.
When the project was announced there were 61 privately owned and 230 Council/RSL
owned dwellings. The Council has acquired all but 11 of the privately owned dwellings and
only one RSL tenant has yet to be re-housed.
Programme Exit Strategy - St Hilda’s
Bid for relocation funding
HMR Transition Fund resources are sought to enable the acquisition of the 12 privately
owned dwellings and the demolition of the remaining 33 properties (See Appendix 2, Plan
2). The 12 properties to be acquired are located in two streets where more that 50% of the
homes are empty. The cleared site will be grassed over in advance of future
redevelopment.
Successor regeneration initiatives
The cleared site at St Hilda’s forms part of the Greater Middlehaven area. St Hilda’s is a key
arrival and transitional area, including the railway station and key routes between the town
centre and the wider Greater Middlehaven area. It is also the home of the Boho Zone, a
creative industries and digital technologies quarter.
The completion of the clearance programme will unlock sites for private sector investment,
create a critical mass of development activity and help address the area’s negative
perceptions as an area of housing market failure.
Should the remaining residential properties remain, the area will continue to be associated
with housing market failure, developer confidence and development momentum in Greater
Middlehaven will be jeopardised, and the vision of the Greater Middlehaven partners will
not be realised and existing investments undermined.
Sources of funding pursued or obtained
The Council’s plans for Greater Middlehaven are supported by the Regional HCA office.
Funding has been sought from the former Planning and Regeneration Budget and
indications from the HCA are that the completion of site assembly at St Hilda’s is
considered to be a priority for future funding.
Resident consultation
The St Hilda’s Liaison Group was established in 2004 shortly after the announcement of the
plans to clear the area. The group included residents, Middlehaven Ward Members, Tees
Valley Regeneration, Erimus Housing and Council Officers. The group continued to meet
regularly until 2010 when number of remaining households was so few that there was no
representation from residents. Residents are aware of the Council’s plans to complete
acquisitions.
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Bid to the Government For Housing Market Transitional Funding
Political Approval
The prioritisation of HMR Transition Fund resources for the completion of acquisitions in St
Hilda’s and Gresham Phase 1, to assist those households trapped in the worst conditions, is
supported by the Elected Mayor of Middlesbrough (see attached letter, Appendix 2).
The Mayor also supports the proposal to complete the redevelopment of Phase 2 of
Gresham using the Council’s own resources in order to stimulate the economic growth of
the town centre and deliver new sustainable jobs in the town. The Council’s Executive will
formally consider the proposal in August/September 2011.
Value For Money
The residents of Gresham and St Hilda’s have previously been offered enhanced relocation
packages to bridge the gap in affordability between their homes and a replacement
property. This bid therefore includes a realistic estimate of enhanced relocation packages
where appropriate. By offering an enhanced package the risk of incurring the expense of a
CPO is mitigated by encouraging residents to take up the offer of relocation assistance.
Middlesbrough Council has implemented value for money (VFM) measures on HMR projects
as part of the adopted sub-regional VFM strategy. The Council has been able to demonstrate
a 24.8% saving on basic controllable costs including legal, valuation and security fees.
Other additional savings on project costs, along with joint working measures, have also
been implemented in order to achieve another 10% (minimum) saving in the next 12 months.
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