23 March 2009
Green Light for Regeneration
Ian Austin MP, Regional Minister for the West Midlands, is coming to Coventry to announce that the £360m redevelopment of the north-east of the city is to go ahead, despite the economic slowdown.
The MP is in the area to officially open New Deal for Communities’ £11m Moat House Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre, which signals the start of the majorphysical change in the four NDC neighbourhoods.
The redevelopment of Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore is due to start in April 2010. The project is being led by Whitefriars Housing Group, in partnership with Coventry City Council, Coventry New Deal for Communities (NDC) and private sector partners Bovis Homes, Keepmoat Homes and Westbury Partnerships.
The details of the scheme were finalised with the input of local residents. It will see up to 3,328 new homes being built over the next 12 – 15 years. Work will also take place to improve the local environment. New roads, shops, green spaces and play areas are planned.
Coventry City Council granted outline planning permission for the redevelopment in January 2009.
Ian Austin has engaged the support of key government regeneration agencies, including the Homes and Communities Agency and Advantage West Midlands, who has pledged to contribute £10m funding to ensure a start on site in April 2010.
He said: “It’s really important that we provide real help now and get projects like this on track to keep the construction industry moving, save jobs and boost the economy.
“I am delighted to announce that I have been able to secure agreement to a package of measures which will ensure that the redevelopment of Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore proceeds despite the economic downturn.
“I have worked closely with the local and regional organisations to ensure this project can go ahead. As a result construction work on the first 600 homes, out of a total of 3,000 to be delivered over the next 15 years, will start on site by April next year.”
The regional minister’s involvement was welcomed by local residents. Martin Smith, who lives in Henley Green, is chair of the residents’ Regeneration Action Team, which is helping to shape decision-making on the redevelopment.
He said: “This is really exciting news for local residents. The announcement from Ian Austin gives us more reason to celebrate as we can finally tell residents when the mscheme will begin. The opening of our new Centre is a clear signal to the community about what this area will be like in the future, especially as it was residents who called for this to be one of the first redevelopment projects. Our role as the
Regeneration Action Team is now to keep working with the developers and other officers to make sure we continue to influence the design and build of our new homes.”
Councillor Gary Ridley, Cabinet Member (City Development) said: "I am delighted at the news of this funding – it's great for the NDC area and for Coventry. We have worked closely with local people to ensure that we make real and lasting change for the people who live there now as well as for future generations.
"Due to the economic downturn, housing developments across the country are grinding to a halt so it's fantastic news that it's all systems go in Coventry. The leisure and neighbourhood centre is a truly impressive building. It has rightly set thedesign bar high and I am confident the new homes will be equally impressive."
David Ward, managing director of Keepmoat Homes, on behalf of private sector developers BKW, said: “We have continued to work with the local community and planning officials over the last two years, in a very challenging environment.
Our ability to successfully achieve planning consent on a scheme of this quality and nature clearly demonstrates BKW’s commitment to community regeneration.”
Moat House Leisure and Neighbourhood Community Centre, on Winston Avenue was funded by Coventry NDC and is a new state-of-the-art building that was prioritised by local residents which combines leisure facilities with a neighbourhood centre. It also benefited from a £1m donation from the Football Foundation.
In addition to a sports hall, fitness suite and football pitches, local agencies, such as Coventry New Deal for Communities and social services have offices on site. Local people are also already enjoying the café and internet facilities.
This new building, which is in the heart of the four neighbourhoods that it serves, is part of the wider regeneration programme that is being led by Coventry’s New Deal for Communities. The organisation has already helped deliver new schools, improved educational attainment, lower crime rates and unemployment and improvements to health.
Notes to Editors
Whitefriars Housing Group Limited is a not-for-profit housing and regeneration organisation established in 2000 that owns and manages approximately 17,000 homes across Coventry.
In December 2008 Whitefriars Housing Group formally joined forces with West Mercia Housing Group (WMHG), which is the lead partner of Spectrum Development Partnership. WMHG consists of Whitefriars Housing Group, Harden Housing Association, Nexus Housing, Kemble Housing Association and Herefordshire Supported Housing for Young People Project. The new combined group, which is a development partner with the Homes and Communities Agency, manages around 23,000 homes across Coventry, the West Midlands, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Whitefriars has a key role, in partnership with others, across the West Midlands to develop new affordable homes and regenerate communities.
Since transfer, Whitefriars has spent £240 million to repair and improve its housing stock. The vast majority of its homes now meet the Government’s Decent Homes Standard – five years ahead of schedule. It is currently embarking on a campaign, Services on the Up, aimed at improving the core services received by residents.
In addition to providing homes, Whitefriars works in partnership with communities and other agencies to provide training and employment opportunities and support services for local residents, with the aim of building sustainable communities.
Whitefriars Housing Group Limited is a charitable industrial and provident society.
About New Deal for Communities
New Deal for Communities is a Government funded community-led initiative aimed at improving neglected and disadvantaged local communities.
In April 2000 Central Government awarded the Coventry New Deal for Communities area of Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore, £54million.
Since 2001, local residents, NDC officers, communities and agencies have been working together to decide how this money will be best used to regenerate the community by creating real employment and training opportunities, better housing, a healthier quality of life, safer communities, a cleaner environment and improvements in educational achievements over the next ten years. The NDC programme is due to end in April 2011.
For further information please contact Ian Hill or Nikki Cheung at The Bridge Group on 024 7656 0440 or i.hill@bridge-group.co.uk
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Annie Harris, COI News & PR on 0121 352 5518 / 07966 284 502