By Neil Merrick
4 March 2010
The ten projects set up to boost housing markets in the Midlands and North of England are making good progress in spite of the recession, the Audit Commission has found.
Five of the Housing Market Renewal ‘pathfinders’ are ‘performing strongly’ (the highest assessment) and the remainder ‘well’, according to reports published on March 4.
By next year, the pathfinders will have received more than £2.2bn in government regeneration funding. Set up in 2002, many ran into early controversy over proposals to demolish thousands of rundown properties. Recent work has focused more on refurbishment and building new homes.
Urban Living, the pathfinder for Birmingham and Sandwell, was praised in this week’s reports for promoting community cohesion, while Bridging Newcastle Gateshead was highlighted for its efficiency.
New Heartlands Merseyside, which two years ago was ‘performing well’, had its assessment raised to ‘performing strongly’. House building remained high in 2008/09 and the pathfinder is promoting a mix of different housing options better.
Roy Irwin, the Audit Commission’s director of housing, said some pathfinders needed to offer better value for money but this was being addressed.
‘Even in difficult times, the HMR pathfinders are playing an important role in efforts to improve existing homes and provide new homes while supporting communities,’ he said.
The commission inspects the programme on behalf of the Homes and Communities Agency. HCA chair Robert Napier said: ‘The HMR programme makes a vital contribution to the growth, sustainability and continuing economic development of some of the North and the Midlands’ most deprived areas.’
4 March 2010
The ten projects set up to boost housing markets in the Midlands and North of England are making good progress in spite of the recession, the Audit Commission has found.
Five of the Housing Market Renewal ‘pathfinders’ are ‘performing strongly’ (the highest assessment) and the remainder ‘well’, according to reports published on March 4.
By next year, the pathfinders will have received more than £2.2bn in government regeneration funding. Set up in 2002, many ran into early controversy over proposals to demolish thousands of rundown properties. Recent work has focused more on refurbishment and building new homes.
Urban Living, the pathfinder for Birmingham and Sandwell, was praised in this week’s reports for promoting community cohesion, while Bridging Newcastle Gateshead was highlighted for its efficiency.
New Heartlands Merseyside, which two years ago was ‘performing well’, had its assessment raised to ‘performing strongly’. House building remained high in 2008/09 and the pathfinder is promoting a mix of different housing options better.
Roy Irwin, the Audit Commission’s director of housing, said some pathfinders needed to offer better value for money but this was being addressed.
‘Even in difficult times, the HMR pathfinders are playing an important role in efforts to improve existing homes and provide new homes while supporting communities,’ he said.
The commission inspects the programme on behalf of the Homes and Communities Agency. HCA chair Robert Napier said: ‘The HMR programme makes a vital contribution to the growth, sustainability and continuing economic development of some of the North and the Midlands’ most deprived areas.’
