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Regeneration projects
Residents look at plans for their estate

Our approach and achievements!

In partnership with residents and local authorities we are developing new approaches for turning unpopular estates into sustainable communities.

In the first five years of our West Berkshire estate renewal programme we have successfully demolished 194 hard-to-let properties and built 168 new family homes in their place, at a total cost of £15M. We have secured £7.1M in social housing grant funding towards this programme, which has also generated capital receipts of £2.4M that we can reinvest in future redevelopment projects.

We are the chosen regeneration partner for the two `New Deal for Communities` areas in the south-west, at Barton Hill in Bristol and Devonport Urban Village in Plymouth. These are major urban renewal schemes that, over 5 years, will produce 250 new affordable homes including properties for sub-market rent and sale. Access to the new homes will be governed by Local Lettings Plans negotiated with the local authorities and designed to give priority to rehousing local people.

We are also investing in the local residents futures by enabling them to access opportunities for training and employment related to the construction programme, and providing funding for community led activities as part of our commitment to meeting the In Business for Neighbourhoods agenda.

As well as our bricks and mortar projects we are putting more emphasis on creating more sustainable communities by supporting local neighbourhood renewal initiatives. Key amongst these are the Neighbourhood Warden schemes which Sovereign operates in West Berkshire.

West Berkshire's Neighbourhood Warden schemes are operated and managed by SHA, but they serve the whole community, not just Sovereign residents. The schemes are funded by a range or partners including SHA, West Berkshire Council, and local Town and Parish Council.

The first scheme in West Berkshire was introduced in 2002, employing three part-time staff covering the Greenham area of Newbury. In the intervening years, the success and popularity of Neighbourhood Wardens has gone from strength to strength. SHA now operates three schemes covering most of the major urban areas of West Berkshire, employing 14 staff, the majority of whom are now full-time. Further expansion is always being looked at and feasibility studies are currently being carried out in two more areas of West Berkshire which may lead to further expansion.

The wardens make a major contribution to meeting the government’s `liveability` agenda, in helping to make the communities they serve cleaner, safer and greener places to live.

link to iN business for neighbourhood web site
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