March 2011

Bowness shops new look

HmR TO END
see page 2

EARLY PROGRESS
see page 3

BIG CHANGES
see page 4

Transforming neighbourhoods to improve lives

HMR to end, but transformation should continue

HMR to end, but transformation should continue The Housing Market Renewal funding for Oldham and Rochdale, and other parts of the country came to an end at the end of March. Since 2004 HMR has invested more than 200 million across the two boroughs, attracting millions more in investment by developer and housing association partners. In Langley more than 14 million has been spent, buying houses and various other properties, clearing sites as well enhancing the environment. We have made very good progress towards transforming our neighbourhoods, in the face of extremely challenging economic conditions. But the work is not yet complete. The announcement that funding is ending presents huge challenges for the future. Whilst we have made good progress, there is much that still needs to be done. Despite the cuts in Council budgets that need to be made for the coming year, Rochdale Council has identified some funds to carry out some of this outstanding work in Langley. In the coming year around 1 million will allow us to get some housing development started and fund clearance and preparation for more new homes. Funds are no longer available to support a dedicated Sustainable Communities team for Langley. Area Director Steve Bloomer will continue to work on Langley for the time being and support will also be available through the Middleton Township Team. This also means that this is the last edition of the Changing Langley Forever newsletter, but thats not to say there wont be opportunities to provide information in the future, and Riverside will continue to produce The Vision. We would like to thank the tenants and residents of Langley for their continued support and co-operation. We are extremely proud of what has been achieved in Langley over the past few years and we hope that other sources of funding will be available ion the future to ensure that the estate continues to thrive. We will continue to manage and maintain the sites that are in our ownership and work will continue to attract a developer to build new housing on Langley in the future. Contact Steve Bloomer, Area Director Council Offices, Sadler Street, Middleton, M24 5UJ Tel (10706) 923128 email steve.bloomer@rochdale.gov.

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Changing Langley Forever March 2011 Page 3

Before

After

Early progress
The progress that Housing Market Renewal has made to transform Langley has been part of wider efforts by many partners. In this final edition of Changing Langley Forever we take a look back at how Langley has changed.

In the early years, much of what we did was aimed at making the neighbourhood look more attractive. Almost 700 homes had their boundaries improved with a combination of brick-built garden walls and railings replacing hedges and wooden fences. Using different colours and styles gave streets their own unique identity. Taking cars of the roads eased access around Langley, making it safer for drivers and pedestrians. Front garden parking spaces, and making other spaces available made a big difference. At the same time, ginnel gating made hundreds of properties more secure, helping to reduce crime and anti social behaviour. Housing Market Renewal allowed us to buy sites across Langley where new development is anticipated. We bought and cleared the flats on Helvellyn, as well as the Cardinals Hat and Sporting Falcon sites.

Before

After

Demolition brings big changes

Martindale

Some of the demolition Housing Market Renewal has carried out in Langley has been really eye-catching none more so than the clearance of the Three Sisters last year. Pulling the empty buildings apart from the top down made a huge difference to the landscape of the estate and created an attractive site for future development. But they werent the only buildings that have gone. Twenty four flats on Rothay Drive, five empty cottage flats that had been an eyesore for several years, and the former Langley primary school have created potential sites where new homes could appear in the future.

Rothay pre and post demolition

Most recently, buying the former Langley library, community centre and former Methodist church at Martindale Crescent creates a development site close to Bowlee Park primary school and the link to Bowlee playing fields.

Langley flats
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New homes appear (with more to follow)

Bringing a bigger choice of high quality new homes for Langley was one of the biggest aims of the project, and the homes that have been completed are certainly striking and attractive additions. Built to replace the tower blocks, Riverside Housings developments at Millbeck Gardens and Rydal Gardens on Wood Street were built with support from housing market renewal, funding landscaping around the buildings and providing advice on making the homes environmentally-friendly. Developers Lovell are providing 50 family homes at Windermere Park with funding from the Kickstart initiative, providing a mix of homes for rent, sale and shared ownership.

Photographs from top: Millbeck ice Aerial Rydal Gardens before and after Lovell Development

Bowness Road shops lose their flats and gain a brighter look
Taking the top two levels off the shops on Bowness Road was the challenge faced by engineers from Rochdale Council and the Impact Partnership. Residents in the flats above the shops were helped to find new homes, and the work began in January. As part of the Housing Market Renewal plans for the neighbourhood the project is now successfully complete. A complex structure of scaffolding covered the building, and stood up very well to the worst of the winter weather. After the demolition of the flats, which took great care to protect the shop premises below, the builders put a new pitched roof on the premises. While the demolition work was being carried out, each of the shops closed for a short time to allow contractors to carry out the work safely, though it was possible to ensure the Bowness Pharmacy could stay open through the works. The shops have now re-opened in their revamped premises, giving a welcome boost to this corner of the estate.

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Bowlee Link brings big changes

With its attractive landscaping and the recent addition of modern, well equipped childrens play areas, its easy to forget that before Housing Market Renewal, the land alongside Bowlee primary school used to be a neglected wasteland. The project in 2006 transformed it into a popular link through to Bowlee Community Park. Pupils at the school worked with an artist to create the designs for the eye-catching steel totem pole marking the entrance. Dozens of mature trees planted at the time are now becoming well established. The Link Corridor is just one feature of how Housing Market Renewal has helped to improve the environment for Langley. Transforming the area is about more than just bricks and mortar this is just one example of how we were able to create an area that everyone can enjoy. And having an appealing environment will help to attract developers to build on the sites for new homes around Langley. The buildings around Martindale Crescent are now cleared to create the latest site where new homes could appear in the future.

Truffet Park Langleys Green Flag jewel

Alongside the Housing Market Renewal investment in Langley, big changes for the better have been made to Langleys very own Green Flag park. Truffet Park on Bowness Road now boasts a fantastic childrens play area, new flood lighting, public toilets and improved access for disabled visitors at the bowling pavilion. All this has helped to win the park its Green Flag, which it has retained for a second year. The park also offers tennis courts, a sensory garden, a wetland area and nature trails. Now that spring has arrived the whole of the park is starting to come into bloom. Much of the success of the park is the result of the dedicated Friends of Truffet Park group, who meet regularly to plan events and activities for the park. If you would like to get more actively involved, why not call into the Bowling Pavilion to find out more information about the group.

Changing Langley for the people who live here

The progress we have made through Housing Market Renewal would not have been possible without involving local people throughout. Thats why at every stage its been important to make sure you had your say on what changes were being made. And what you said made a big difference. One important issue was the poor quality of the environment locally, with many under-used and poorly managed open spaces. As a result our Green Space Strategy set out plans to improve these spaces over time. Alongside this, consultation events took place across the estate. More than 400 people took the chance to make their views clear. More than two thirds of the responses we got were in favour of proposals, but at the same time the views of people who werent happy were taken into account. We made changes to the plans, scaling back the number of houses that were likely to be demolished. Over the last few years, the Langley team has arranged many community events across the estate that have helped to bring people together to find out information about making the most of services, to hear the

S EW N
have carried out the work as part of the Housing Market Renewal transformation on the estate. And just around the corner, where the ginnel between Bonscale Crescent and Langley Lane has been widened, neighbour Celia Kay looked after the contractors throughout the work. So as a thank you, staff from the Langley team and Jackson & Jackson visited Miss Spooner and Mrs Kay to present them with a box of tea and biscuits. The improvements at Lee Street and Bonscale Crescent will allow easier access for pedestrians and cyclists. At the ginnel between Bonscale Crescent and Langley Lane, the old walls have been replaced with attractive brick-built ones featuring colourful tiles. The ginnel is wider, creating a safer, more welcoming environment.

latest on new developments and also to have fun. Lots of the events were an opportunity for local groups to perform, and for people to find out about the voluntary groups that contribute so much to Langleys community. Supporting local groups has also been an important job for the Langley HMR team. Weve been able to help local organisations to win funding from Neighbourhood Renewal and the Safer Stronger Communities Fund, making a big difference to everyone who lives here.

Kindness rewarded for Langley residents

Building work to improve pedestrian access to Langley was helped along by a constant supply of hot cups of tea, and biscuits, from Lee Street resident Margaret Spooner. During the upheaval Miss Spooner has brewed more than a hundred cuppas, looking after the workmen from Jackson, Jackson & Sons who

This newsletter can be made available in other formats. To access these please call 01706 923137

For more information please contact Steve Bloomer, Angela Forster, Katie Fletcher or Michelle Walton at the Council offices, Fountain Street, Middleton M24 1AF Tel: 01706

923137 or visit www.oldhamrochdalehmr.co.uk

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