Woodhouse residents have the masterplan

8.58.30pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 7th May 2009

Woodhouse residents are set to see their area transformed thanks to a new million pound project which gives them the chance to design their ideal neighbourhood.

This is all part of the Woodhouse masterplan, an on-going project funded and managed by Groundwork, Leeds Federated Housing Association and West North West Homes. Councillors from the North West Area have pledged their support for the project by giving ￡20,000 from their area committee. Councillor Kabeer Hussain has also given ￡10,000 from his Ward Based Initiative pot.

The masterplan is an innovative design scheme which will include new, innovative pocket parks, recreation spaces and boundary improvements all designed to improve residents quality of life and create spaces to bring the community together. There are also plans to create landmarks and features such as display areas for community art projects which will make the area more attractive and give Woodhouse a unique character.

Flowers, plants and greenspace will feature heavily in the design with residents already getting started.

Recently tenants and residents took part in a workshop where they made hanging baskets to help brighten up the area.

The hanging basket workshop formed part of Groundwork, Leeds Federated and West North West Homes joint efforts to harness tenants and residents' people power to improve Woodhouse's environment, with lots of support from Oblong Leeds and other voluntary organisations.

Cllr Penny Ewens (Lib Dem, Hyde Park and Woodhouse) said:

"I am so pleased to be supporting such a new, innovative scheme. Residents and tenants are involved in the whole process from design to construction. We are doing our best to get as much funding as possible for this and to extend plans beyond Woodhouse and into the surrounding area."

Cllr Kabeer Hussain (Lib Dem, Hyde Park and Woodhouse) added:

"This is a great scheme I am particularly interested in the plans for improved community space in the Holborns estate. I have therefore donated ￡10,000 from my Ward Based Initiative fund to help pay for improvements in this area."

John Cummins, Communities Team Leader at Groundwork, said: "We're so pleased to have reached this point and it's thanks to tenants and residents' enthusiasm, hard work and ideas that we're now at the stage to start progressing projects in Woodhouse. Watch this space to see how the environmental improvements to Woodhouse shape up..."

For further information about the work in Woodhouse, please contact John Cummins at Groundwork on 0113 238 0601.