A Government Watchdog has given Merseyside's Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder NewHeartlands its highest rating of 'Performing Strongly' in their latest report.

The review carried out by the Audit Commission found that the Pathfinder was the only one in the review period to move from 'Performing Well' in 2008 to 'Performing Strongly' in 2009.

NewHeartlands covers around 130,000 properties in some of the most disadvantaged communities of Liverpool, Wirral and Sefton. It is tasked with tackling the historic collapse of housing demand in these areas, and the economic decline that accompanies it.

It does this in a range of ways, including building attractive new properties, refurbishing existing properties, encouraging a sense of community, supporting economic growth and creating new opportunities for residents. It has been awarded a further £47m for 10/11 bringing the total HMR funding to £342.26m between 2003 and March 2011.

The Audit Commission team inspected NewHeartlands' performance through personal visits, interviews with residents, partners and stakeholders and a review of the research, strategy, data and documents that underpin the present and the future of the organisation.

It praised NewHeartlands in several areas, saying that it is 'Performing Strongly' in five of seven categories, and 'Well' in the remaining two. (See table in Notes to Editors)

Their findings about the pathfinder include:

• An impressive record of developing new homes despite the credit crunch. In difficult times, the HMR target of building 603 new homes was exceeded, reaching 645.
• Drawing in more complementary investment than any other pathfinder.
• Playing a vital role in the way perceptions of neighbourhoods are improving, through new homes, a contribution to reducing levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, housing management, the appearance of estates and open spaces, and public art programmes.
• Keeping communities together in clearance and new build areas, through the use of home ownership advisors and tailored packages of equity loans.
• Using high-level market research and data to develop future strategies, as well as contributing to the wider knowledge bank at regional, city regional and local level.
• Working closely with local people to make sure they are informed, engaged and involved in the HMR programme and its future development.

Several specific achievements were singled out for praise in the report. These include:

• The development of a new supermarket as part of a canal side programme of homes for rent and sale in South Sefton has created 350 new jobs, 140 ring-fenced for the local long-term unemployed. This project demonstrated a successful partnership approach to regeneration.
• The commissioning of important new research, such as the first national study into the relationship between worklessness and HMR.
• Involving residents closely in plans for new homes in Rock Ferry in Wirral from day one in 2004 right through to work starting on site.
• Attracting Kickstart funding to help build developments which might otherwise have been mothballed, such as £2.65m for Gilead Street in Kensington, Liverpool.

Brendan Nevin, Managing Director of NewHeartlands, said:

"We are delighted with the findings of the Audit Commission and especially pleased that despite a very challenging economic climate, we have improved our overall performance levels. The report shows that the work of NewHeartlands and the HMR programme in the area stands up to the closest scrutiny, and continues to deliver real change for the better in the neighbourhoods that need it the most."

This table shows this year and the previous year's performance in the seven categories on which we are measured:

Year	Housing Market Intelligence	Place Shaping	Affordable Homes & Mixed Communities	Community Cohesion, Consultation & Support	Delivery & Impact	Strategic & Operational Alignment	Efficiency & Effectiveness	Overall Performance
2008	Well	Well	Strong	Strong	Strong	Well	Well	Well
2009	Strong	Well	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	Well	Strong