Peterborough City Council announced details of a new four-year neighbourhood management project, which commences this spring, with the aim to revitalise the Greater Dogsthorpe area of the City. The £1.6 million project, which is supported by the Safer and Stronger Communities Fund, aims to tackle a wide range of community needs. A new neighbourhood development team will have a brief that includes initiatives to target health improvement, employment and work training opportunities, teenage pregnancies, and care services for the elderly.
The demolition of the 20-storey, 100+ dwellings Clyde Tower made way for progress in the Birmingham Sandwell Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder area. The demolition was part of a £50 million investment across the area.
Problems in switching off gas and electricity supplies in dwellings marked for demolition were causing protracted delays to market renewal work in Liverpool. The problem is partly due to the large number of companies operating in regeneration areas and the resulting amount of necessary administration work. The regeneration of Boot Estate is particularly affected, with the regeneration programme about one year behind schedule. Liverpool Council has now called on the Government to intervene and take action at a national level.
North Lanarkshire Council received £4.55 million from the Scottish Executive's Housing Estate Regeneration Fund, to demolish around 250 flats on the Gowkthrapple area of Wishaw, making room for new development that will provide homes for rent and sale.
The University of London's Birkbeck College launched a new academic qualification for neighbourhood renewal professionals. The new qualification will provide successful students with a postgraduate certificate in neighbourhood management and renewal.
English Partnerships appointed Basildon Community HA and Lovell as preferred developers for a £200 million regeneration project in Basildon. The programme will see 600 homes demolished and replaced by 1,200 new dwellings. The regeneration area includes the Craylands Estate and the site of a former school in the new town. Basildon Community is a subsidiary of Swan Housing Group.