What's Happening In Your Area?

Why has my area been chosen for development?

The Wallasey and Waterfront area covers the neighbourhood at the northernmost tip of the NewHeartlands Wirral development area and its eastern boundary with the River Mersey. The area has great potential for development, with its inland dock system, waterfront and other neighbourhoods within the district.

The area has been chosen for development in order to recognize this potential and deal with the high numbers of old terraced houses, which are often adjacent to industrial land. The Council will need to develop a long-term view of what is needed and what can be done. The work will complement Peel's Wirral Waters and plans for the Birkenhead and Wallasey Docks and Waterfront areas. It will make full use of the potential waterside living in Wirral to maximise the spectacular views of the Liverpool City skyline.

What is happening?

There is a large amount of development work taking place in the Wallasey and Waterfront area. Four housing clearance schemes, amounting to over 100 houses suffering from severe housing market problems, are either in progress or close to completion. A targeted programme of 'Living Through Change' initiatives is also in place, providing services such as neighbourhood wardens, environmental wardens and target hardening.

Initiatives aimed at increasing home ownership will begin, by targeting empty properties and encouraging property sales, in parthership with a local housing association. They will refurbish empty rented homes to be sold for owner occupation.

A new build development in partnership with a local housing association has been created, for young parents in Seacombe, which is now fully occupied. There will be investment by Wirral Partnership Homes in the area, to improve their housing and clear the unpopular Wirral Partnership Homes properties. Also in Seacombe, the completion of the first phase of East Float on the Dock Road will create 168 new homes, with the potential for more homes to be built on derelict land next to East Float;

The Wirral Waters Initiative will focus on revitalising the dock area and there are plans being submitted for a new build RSL scheme for Stringhey Road. There will also be private developer new build schemes on various sites such as Poulton Road and Trafalgar Road.

How long will it take?

Some individual schemes such as the young parent's scheme in Wheatland Lane, Seacombe have recently been completed together with the first phase of the East Float Development. Others such as the Stringhey Road Scheme are likely to be completed within the next 12-18 months subject to planning approval. The Peel Holdings Wirral Waters Masterplan is a long term plan, which will take around 20-30 years to complete.

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 development. You will have your own Home Ownership Advisory Officer from the Council's Homemover's 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?

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 and transport.

What other improvements will I see?

Alongside developing the housing in the area, investment will be made to maintain comfortable, safe The 'Living Through Change' programme for 2006-2008 will bring a number of additional benefits to the areas:

• Environmental Wardens and Neighbourhood Wardens will protect and improve the environment. They will keep clearance areas clean and tidy, maintain the safety and security of empty properties in key areas and help reduce anti-social behaviour.
  
  
• A Target Hardening Scheme will help deter the fear of crime and various security devices will be installed in properties, ranging 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.
  
  
• The Landlord Accreditation team will work with private landlords in the area to help improve property and management standards in private rented property.
  
  
• 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 more information contact:

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