Chain Street Regeneration Project, Bradford Geraldine Howley, Group Chief Executive, Incommunities Group October 2016
Where is Chain Street? Generic name for streets in the Goitside Conservation area, west of Bradford city centre, (within City Centre Masterplan Area)
History of Chain Street Built in 1909 by Bradford Corporation 5 tenement blocks (3 demolished in the 70s) 2 nd oldest Council housing in Bradford A further 2 blocks built in 1910 The U-Shaped block was built in 1925 Heart of the Irish community
History of Chain Street Initially built to rehouse early slum clearances U-shaped block built to rehouse Irish labourers 3 blocks lost to demolition Determined to save heritage 2 block refurbished in 2005
The area degenerated in the noughties Chain Street - from popular homes to obsolete, redundant dwellings no-one wanted to live in
The U-Shaped block faired no better From this, to this
Roundhill Place suffered as well The frontages decayed The backs became criminal playgrounds
Masterplan Masterplan commissioned Jointly funded by Incommunities and Bradford Council Created a Vision for the area Explored demolition & redevelopment, retention & investment Desire to retain the heritage of the area Mixture of remodelling and redevelopment Aspiration for a mixed tenure scheme High quality design Other sites included within Masterplan
Community Engagement In 2004 consultation began with local residents and businesses From 2010 a number of events were held with the local community and stakeholders to discuss the redevelopment of the area. The key issues identified and incorporated into the design of the scheme included: - balance and blend of housing tenure/property size - provision of good quality open green space/public realm - improved traffic safety/speed reduction measures/community safety - the opportunity to reduce crime and ASB - create housing that suits local needs and meets modern standards Following the completion of the scheme, a steering group, which meets quarterly, was set up with Bradford Council, Incommunities, police and local community groups
Phase I 2013/14 Remodelling of two blocks of 32 bedsits into 15 family houses Cost 1.26m 375k HCA AHP grant 100k Bradford Council Empty Homes grant 785k Incommunities
Phase I
Phase I
Phase I
Phase I Extremely popular with tenants Mr Quddues and family, the first tenant
Phase II 2014/16 Demolition of U-Shaped Block 32 new family houses Linear Park funded by Council Partnership between: Incommunities Bradford Council QSH (private investment Co.) Barnfield construction 10 for affordable rent 12 for private rent 10 for open market sale
Phase II Cost 3.3m Bradford Council 707k (grant for site remediation) QSH 1,200k (private investment) HCA 250k (social housing grant) Incommunities 1,143k (debt funded) Completed summer 2016
Phase II
Post-script Affordable rented homes very popular easy to let Private rented homes harder to find tenants due to rent/bond Housing for market sale didn t sell Incommunities have agreed to purchase the homes instead
Learning Points Innovative partnership involving a housing association, the Council, the HCA, a private investment Co. and a developer Took a long time to develop the partnership Grant needed from HCA and Council to allow scheme to stack up (over 30% of the cost was grant-funded) High site remediation costs, low values Extra costs due to be being in a Conservation area Masterplan process assisted greatly Allowed Council depts and Incommunities to align behind the Plan Capacity and resources to commission future Masterplans? Housing for Sale was unsuccessful Reappraise the product; proper market analysis beforehand Don t assume - collect evidence instead
Why successful? Successful regeneration scheme due to grant, innovation, pragmatism and commitment from all parties Vision created by the Masterplan Alignment to the Vision Agreement on delivery model Understanding of roles of key partners Innovative partnership between public/private sector Commitment of partners Grant available to support low values/site remediation Pragmatic approach to demolition, remodelling, redevelopment High quality design Mixed tenure/mixed income community
Thank you any questions?