Social landlord Riverside has exceeded
its promises made to residents when it took over the North
Bransholme estate in Hull 12 months ago.
In November 2010, Riverside took over 1184
homes after tenants voted in favour of a stock transfer from Hull
City Council.
When it took over the management of the
estate, Riverside agreed an investment plan with the Council to
refurbish over 140 boarded up properties, some of which had been
empty for up to 15 years. They became a magnet for anti-social
behaviour, fly tipping and vandalism and were a blot on the
landscape.
In a bid to transform the estate, Riverside
set out a five year, £15 million refurbishment plan.
Since then, Riverside has:
- Invested over £5 million.
- Brought 562 properties up to the Decent Homes Standard, a
government standard to ensure all homes are modern, warm and
weatherproof. It is also on track to deliver Decent Homes Plus two
years ahead of schedule.
- Fitted 1,880 front and rear doors.
- Fitted 800 homes with top efficiency boilers and new central
heating systems within six months, two months ahead of
schedule.
- Externally insulated 114 homes
- Fitted new loft insulation in 500 homes.
- Demolished 49 of 109 long term empty unsustainable
properties.
- Brought 40 long term voids back into use.
- Created 39 new employment opportunities for local people.
- Pledged over £5k to local groups from community chest
funds.
Take a look at our exclusive North Bransholme video
"The
first chapter of change" which details our work and the
response from the most important people - the
residents.
Riverside’s Operations Manager Carl
Mitchell said: “The estate was originally built in the 1970s
following earlier slum clearance programmes and post war housing
need. By the 1990s it suffered low demand and growing number of
properties were boarded up.A large investment was needed in the
area which is ranked in the top 10% nationally for multiple
deprivation.
“The estate narrowly missed out on Housing
Market Renewal Pathfinder funding, some residents, understandably,
had started to lose faith.
“So when we came along promising to transform
lives and revitalise the neighbourhood, we needed to quickly make
an impact in the area and the results so far speak for
themselves.
“We have achieved so much within our first
year that we hope we have started to change lives and restore
neighbourhoods. North Bransholme has a great community spirit and
I’m glad that the homes are now starting to reflect the renewed
vigour of the people who live in them.”
All of the latest information is available to view in
North Bransholme News
and Views. (November 2011).
View Carl's Blog.
Over the next four years, Riverside will:
- Invest a further £10 million.
- Fit approximately 960 new kitchens
- Fit approximately 960 new bathrooms
- Bring back another 100 boarded up properties back into
use.
- Build 64 new properties.