Lenny gives new estate a very firm foundation

Jun 12 2007 By Sarah Judd, The Journal

Two very different projects are the focus of this quarter's regeneration feature. Sarah Judd reports.

*********

The transformation of a housing estate in Middlesbrough is well under way, with people already enjoying their new homes. Lenny Carter, 85, was one of the first Whinney Banks residents to move into a brand new bungalow following the completion of the first phase of the Acklam Green development.

More than 400 inter-war houses on the estate are in the process of being cleared to pave the way for the new homes.

And when the keys to the first 27 of more than 450 new homes planned for the area were handed over, Lenny, who has lived on the estate for more than 40 years, became one of the first people to benefit.

Built by Bellway Homes North East for the Tees Valley Housing Group (TVHG) Lenny's new home is part of a £50m plus scheme to revive central Whinney Banks.

And although Lenny was sad to leave the house in Shirley Avenue where he lived for 34 years, he was delighted with his new, specially adapted bungalow.

Lenny, a retired foreman dock worker, said: "I'm flabbergasted at how nice the house is. It is wonderful.

"I have really nice neighbours and my family has been great in helping me get settled in. It's even better than the doctor ordered."

The scheme is a flagship project of the New Deal for Communities initiative being undertaken by West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust (WMNT).

The regeneration is WMNT's largest project, with 26 hectares of land being redeveloped to create the new homes, a new park complete with nature reserve, sports pitches and new health and community facilities to serve West Middlesbrough.

A variety of new houses, ranging from bungalows and apartments for older people through to two, three and four-bedroom homes for families, together with a landmark apartment building at the gateway to the site, are being developed. A completely new network of roads and cycle ways will transform the area, and a new roundabout on Acklam Road will create a new access leading onto a tree-lined main boulevard.

The project is expected to be complete by March 2010, with the five-year development programme providing:

* 354 houses and apartments for sale.

* 100 homes for rent.

* A new health and community facility.

* A gateway building of apartments at the entrance to the development from a new roundabout on Acklam Road.

* New sport and play facilities and the development of a local nature reserve.

Joan Ford, a former chairwoman of WMNT, said they were delivering a `top class' development in partnership with Bellway and TVGH.

One of the highlights of her involvement in the project has been seeing first hand how the new development is helping people lead a better quality of life.

She said: "The highlight of the last few months for me was meeting Lenny. He's a lovely older gentleman and told me many tales from the war onwards.

"You can really start to see how the whole area is being transformed and the patience of residents is now starting to be rewarded."

Martin Hawthorne, director of development for TVHG, said: "It's wonderful to see our first tenants moving into their new homes. We've been working with local residents, WMNT, Middlesbrough Council and Bellway for a long time planning this massive housing development." Earlier this year the scheme was given a massive boost when a compulsory purchase order for two existing homes in central Whinney Banks was granted after a public enquiry, and an order to allow existing roads to be closed was confirmed.

This opened the way for the next phase of the development, by allowing what remains of the old estate to be cleared to make way for more new homes.

Keith Lewis, of Bellway Homes North East, was delighted that both the compulsory purchase order and road plans have been confirmed, allowing the development to move onto the next stage.

He said: "All of the partners can now progress into the next phase of land disposal and the start of building houses for sale, so the transformation everyone's looking forward to is achieved."

WMNT has worked in close partnership with Middlesbrough Council, which transferred the land to WMNT to make the redevelopment possible.

Dave Budd, Middlesbrough Council's executive councillor for regeneration said the decision was great news for the town.

He said: "Middlesbrough Council has always supported this major redevelopment. This will mean a far greater choice of good quality homes for local people."

Plans are also being developed between WMNT and Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust to create a major centre providing GP and primary health services, sports and community facilities.

The second phase of homes for TVHG is almost complete, and includes two two-bedroom houses, 10 three-bedroom properties and seven shared ownership residences of three and four bedrooms.