Demolition job

IMPROVED . . . Some of the properties given a facelift

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

A £2 billion housing regeneration scheme that sparked protests in Oldham has been blasted by MPs for being more successful at demolishing homes than building new ones.

The new report on Housing Market Renewal (HMR), by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, backs the arguments of residents who have refused to leave their homes.

The scheme was meant to rejuvenate the housing market in low demand areas by rebuilding or refurbishing homes where economic decline and lack of investment had left streets of empty properties.

But in Derker many residents have refused to move, saying their homes are far from dilapidated, and rows of houses have been left tinned up.

Derker Community Action Group (DCAG) is contesting a ruling that Compulsory Purchase Orders on 90 houses and 12 businesses can go ahead and now has dates of October 29 and 30 for the High Court hearing. It urged regeneration bosses to heed the MPs’ findings.

In all, 40,000 properties have been refurbished, 10,000 demolished and only 1,000 new homes built.

Committee chairman Edward Leigh said the programme had been “more successful at demolishing old homes than at building new ones”.

He added: “The Government must work to foster confidence among local residents, especially where the programme has led to stress. The desire of those who wish to continue living in their areas should not be disregarded.”

Campaigners have long argued that the scheme is destroying communities, causing stress and compensation is far too low.

DCAG chairman Maureen Walsh said morale was high among residents fighting CPOs, some of whom have lived in their houses for up to 60 years.

She added: “It should have been said a lot sooner and should not have gone as far as it has. We would be vindicated if they had listened to us in the first place.

“There are streets where houses were demolished nearly three years ago and they have not laid a brick. If they want your house then they should give you enough money to buy another one in the same community.

“There are at least 8,000 people needing a home in Oldham and we have all these good houses up here, tinned-up and going to ruin, and for a matter of a few thousand pounds they could be turned into a cracking good home rather than the millions that goes on rebuilding them.”

Oldham Rochdale HMR director Alastair Graham said it was too early to judge the overall success. The scheme will spend £100million and provide 3,000 new homes in Oldham and Rochdale over the next three years. In Derker over 70 new homes are available at Stoneleigh.

Residents whose homes are demolished are given support to find a new build property. The Home Plus Plan helps meet the gap of up to £35,000 between the cost of the old and new property, which 100 residents have taken up.



They say:

THE House of Commons Public Accounts Committee’s Housing Market Renewal (HMR) report:



Warns that without support in the longer term there is a risk that the legacy of the scheme will be demolition sites across the country, rather than new properties.



Calls for the Government to work harder to reduce the “community stress” caused when neighbourhoods are demolished.



Demands action to ensure that residents are not forced out of their communities.



States compensation on offer for homes is £35,000 less on average than what’s needed to buy a suitable alternative.



Says a decline in the number of homes suffering from low demand may just be due to the normal operation of the market.




87 homes refurbished



MORE than 80 properties in Hathershaw and Fitton Hill have been given a facelift.



The improvements have included rebuilding boundary walls, brick cleaning, replacement of drain pipes and guttering, and repointing.

The refurbishment programme has concentrated on homes in Ashton Road, which has greatly improved the appearance of the main gateway to the town.

Additionally, works have been carried out on Broadway Street as part of the Hathershaw North improvements and on Neild Street as part of the Triangle improvements.

Resident James O’Donnell, of Ashton Road, said: “The work is absolutely brilliant. The standard of workmanship is excellent and the team was top class.”

As well as enhancing the appearance of the homes in these areas, the work aims to help stabilise the housing market.

Mark Glynn, HMR head of strategy said: “Refurbishing homes is an important feature of the Pathfinder programme.

“It is helping to preserve and enhance the fabric of the buildings and brightens the appearance of the whole neighbourhood.”

The work is part of the joint spatial masterplan improvement scheme commissioned with Housing Market Renewal, Oldham Council and the New Deal for Communities programme.