What's Happening In Your Area?

Why has my area been chosen for development?

This area has been chosen for redevelopment, due to its great need for improvement of the low standards of living in the area. The 'Church Road Masterplan' will target the shopping area on the main road and the 19thcentury terraced residential properties and larger semi-detached homes to the rear and east of Church Road.

The Council consulted the local community in October 2004 and found that the vast majority of residents thought the housing situation was not attracting new families to the area. The majority of residents supported plans for radical redevelopment that would include a large amount of demolition. The Council and local residents have decided together that this is the best way to put a stop to Tranmere's social and physical decline.

What is happening?

The Masterplan was approved in September 2005 and since then the Council has been working with their developer, Lovell, to produce plans for the area. These plans include a new shopping centre with eight small units, a large store, new public open spaces and around 150 new homes for sale on the open market with better parking.

To help with the design process, DK architects produced an 'Urban Design Analysis', to look at how the area has developed over time. This looked at key landmarks in the area, transport links, how open and green spaces are used and the layout, character and scale of the buildings. The study will consider how the existing character and positive aspects of Church Road could influence the design of the new development.

The outline planning application has been submitted for the scheme and it is hoped that a decision will be reached by the end of the summer 2007.

How long will it take?

The Council has now bought around 60% of properties in the Church Road area and all the sites for the first phase of the development will be cleared in the next couple of months. These include the former Abakhan shop site on the corner of Church Road and Seymour Street, the cleared site on Whitford Road / Fountain Street and the cleared site of the former Hillside Court Tower Block.

Detailed designs will be developed later in the year and the local community will have a chance to comment on the design's progress in the Autumn. Lovell expect to start on site at the beginning of 2008 with the first retail and housing units completed with around 12 months from that date.

I live in an area that will be cleared and redeveloped - what will happen to me?

NewHeartlands will work hard to support you at every stage of the redevelopment. You will have your own Home Ownership Advisory Officer from the Council's Homemovers Service, who will be there to offer you advice and support every step of the way. A range of options and practical advice will be on offer to you, such as finding an alternative home, organising removals and financial advice. Your Home Ownership Advisory Officer will support you whether you are looking to buy or rent a property. They will arrange an appointment to visit you soon after a decision has been made that your property will be cleared. Many people are happy to find a new property for themselves but we also have a number of renovated houses available nearby for you to move to, if you wish, so you don't have to move far away. If you are affected and require more information, Home Ownership Advisory Officers will explain the housing options in more detail.

My house is in an area that is not scheduled for development - what will happen instead?

There are a small number of properties in the Church Road area which will not be cleared and residents will have the opportunity to apply for financial assistance to improve their properties. A grant will be offered for 50% of the work needed on the property (subject to conditions) and the rest will be recorded as a Land Charge, which will be recovered if the property is sold.

Improving housing will have a positive knock-on effect for the whole area - boosting the local economy by building confidence and attracting new people to the area. But we are not developing our plans in isolation - we are working together with a wide range of other organisations like the health service and the police. We will also be making sure we link with other regeneration programmes to improve job prospects, education, transport and parks in other areas in Rock Ferry and Tranmere.

What other improvements will I see?

The initiative will not just focus on housing development. Investment will be made to maintain comfortable, safe and secure living conditions to help residents live through the changes that housing

The 'Living Through Change' programme for 2006-2008 will bring a number of benefits to the areas:

• Environmental Wardens and Neighbourhood Wardens will protect and improve the environment by keeping clearance areas clean and tidy. They will maintain the safety and security of empty properties in the HMRI areas and help reduce levels of anti-social behaviour.

• A Target Hardening Scheme will help to deter the fear of crime and various security devices will be installed in properties. These will range from door locks and personal alarms to security lighting and CCTV.
  
  
• Financial support for energy efficiency improvements, such as loft and cavity wall insulation and energy efficient heating systems, will be offered to all households.
  
  
• Derelict land within the clearance areas will be landscaped to ensure the area is clean and maintained until new development work begins.
  
  
• Green spaces within neighbourhoods will be enhanced.
  
  
• A 'Handy Person Scheme' has been established to provide an affordable, reliable handyman service for small maintenance or repair jobs around the home.
  
  
• The 'Home Movers Scheme' will offer practical support to people moving due to clearance to ensure successful relocation and resettlement.

For further information contact:

Emma Foley
Housing Regeneration Manager
0151 691 8155
emmafoley@wirral.gov.uk