What's Happening In Your Area?

Why has the area been chosen for development?

In recent years, the Linacre neighbourhood has began to suffer from issues associated with housing market decline. Although the area remains relatively popular, issues such as anti-social behaviour, abandoned properties and crime have started to impact upon the lives of those that live here. It is for these reasons that Housing Market Renewal funding will be used to stop this decline before it becomes more serious.

What is happening?

Sefton Council recognises that in order to achieve long-term change as robust and thoroughly researched strategy needs to be developed. In order to come up with this strategy the Housing Market Renewal Team has been working with consultants and the local community to develop a masterplan for the area. The next step will be a public consultation which will take place in early 2007, with the masterplan exercise expected to be complete by late spring 2007.

Neighbourhood Management

Each HMR area has been assigned a Registered Social Landlord (RSL) to manage the neighbourhood and provide advice, support and services for all residents, whether they rent or own their property.

The RSL for the Linacre area is LinacreOne and they are based at:

LinacreOne shop
140-142 Linacre Road
Bootle
L21 8JU
0151 922 4898.

Living through Change

While we await the final masterplan for the area, Linacre One are pursuing improvements within the Linacre area through a programme of 'living through change' projects, which is funded by Housing Market Renewal. This is managed and delivered by the neighbourhood RSL and aims to support people living in the area by making the environment as pleasant as possible. Initiatives in the Linacre neighbourhood include:

• Handy person scheme - where residents can access a handy person to do odd jobs, for free. For more information contact Becky Henstock on 0151 920 2248.
• Improved street lighting to reduce night time crime.
• Environmental hit squad - improving general cleanliness in the area and reducing fly tipping.
• Community arts project.
• Soccer fix - engaging young people through football training.

How long will it take?

Housing Market Renewal is a10-15 years programme. The Housing Market Renewal area covers most of south Sefton, and presently resources are being focussed on the areas with most need. The Housing Market Renewal programme in Linacre is designed to help address some of the issues being experienced by residents. Over the course of the Housing Market Renewal programme, we will work with partners to identify further resources to deliver the masterplan.

How will I be kept informed about what's happening?

Housing Market Renewal distributes a newsletter to every home in the area on a quarterly basis. The newsletter will keep you informed of what's happening in your area and can also be found in the library and local community centres. LinacreOne produces quarterly newsletters and copies are delivered to all households in the neighbourhood. If you have a specific enquiry you can contact Linacre One.

What other improvements will I see?

Housing Market Renewal is about creating places where people want to live, where they have access to good transport, health facilities, good shops, a safe and clean environment and good community facilities.

The Housing Market Renewal team has been working with a range of services and organisations to make this happen. For example funding projects such as:

• Reassurance Policing - This is a dedicated police officer for the Linacre area.
• Environmental Hit Squad - Environmental and security initiative to improve the physical appearance of the neighbourhood.
  

The Linacre area has other community projects that provide a valuable resource for local people, which are run by and for the community.