Council chiefs give OK to £1.5m for East Leeds regeneration (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Council chiefs give OK to £1.5m for East Leeds regeneration

June 15, 2006 3:15 PM

Council chiefs have taken a giant step towards 'narrowing the gap' in one of the most run down areas of east Leeds. Thirty-six houses in the Florence Street area of Harehills will be demolished to make way for a major new regeneration site. The demolition, costing an estimated £1.5m, was approved by the Executive Board after recommendations by the council's Director for Neighbourhoods and Housing.

Consultation's with local residents revealed that a majority of people were in favour of the scheme, in an area with some of the worst levels of deprivation in the country. Local Councillors Javaid Akhtar and Alan Taylor have expressed delight at the decision and talked of the scheme's potential to rejuvenate the local community.

Councillor Javaid Akhtar (Lib Dem, Gipton & Harehills) said "I am delighted that the Executive Board has given the Florence Street project the green light. This is a real opportunity to help regenerate the whole area, whether that is through new homes, a community space or medical centre."

Councillor Alan Taylor (Lib Dem, Gipton & Harehills) added "The clearance of Florence St will mean that this is a fresh start for an area that has become tired and worn down through years of under investment. Now with EASEL beginning to take shape and major investments like this, the people of Harehills can feel positive about their community's future."

Notes:

Attached as part of the news release are key elements of the report entitled Regeneration of the Florence St area of Harehills that was presented to Exec Board on the 14 June 2006:-

1. Of the allocation of £2.5 million which was secured from the Regional Housing

Board for the purpose of tackling poor quality, pre 1919 housing stock in Harehills

£1m was allocated for the clearance of a site on Ashley Rd leaving a balance of

£1.5m. The proposals contained within this report if approved will utilise this

Balance. Three options have been considered for the target area encompassing 36

properties. The option appraisal has identified Option C - acquisition, clearance and

ultimately redevelopment of the site as the preferred option. This option is

considered to be most effective in starting a process of transformational change

which is required to regenerate the wider area.

2. The target area is included within one of the worst 10% Super Output Areas (SOAs) on the national Index of Multiple Deprivation. For some indicators the area features within the worst 3% of SOAs in the country, for example crime and living environment.

3. During July 2005 attempts were made to contact and visit all residents whose

homes are directly affected by the proposals. These visits established that 3 of

the properties are currently empty, of the remaining 33; contact was made with 29

householders and face to face interviews carried out with 27. Two residents

declined to take part in the consultation. Officers were unable to make contact

with 4 householders despite a number of visits, cards left and 2 letters.

4. Of the 27 residents consulted 17 were in favour of demolition, 6 didn't know and 4

were not in favour of demolition. Many of the residents who stated that they were in

favour of demolition mentioned a desire to see modern family houses with gardens

provided on the cleared site.

5. A provisional timescale has been devised with the aim of acquiring and

securing vacant possession of all properties by the end of 2006, with demolition

taking place within the first quarter of 2007.

6. Although the preference is to acquire properties by agreement with owners,

ultimately if agreement cannot be reached this report recommends that officers be

authorised to make and promote any necessary Compulsory Purchase Orders.

7. The clearance of the 36 properties targeted within this report would provide a

potential development site for a number of alternative uses which could include new

housing and an area of much needed open space or community health provision.

A link to the full report is attached below, scroll down to Item 13.

http://www.leeds.gov.uk/moderngov/ieListDocuments.asp?CId=102&MId=250&J=1

Leeds Liberal Democrats