Thorplands recommended for share of £100m PFI uplift
December 8, 2009 3:45 PM
Thorplands is being recommended as the second estate to be transformed under Lib Dem-run Northampton Borough Council's £100 million bid to improve homes across Northampton East.
In October 2008, the Council submitted a first round bid to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) for Private Finance Initiative (PFI) funds to transform Bellinge, Blackthorn, Eastfield and Thorplands estates.
In July 2009, the HCA advised the Guildhall that it was one of only 10 Councils to go through to the second bidding round.
It said that if the bid proved a success, Eastfield and one other estate should be the focus of a revised second round bid that would bring about 'transformational change' in local areas.
Transformational change is quango-speak for a dramatic improvement to people's homes and neighbourhoods - not just a refurb.
The HCA considers four main criteria in determining the success of a PFI bid: stock condition; social and economic needs; estate popularity; and viability.
To help the Council decide on its second estate, an independent review was carried out in consultation with residents of all four estates.
The findings of a residents' survey carried out in all four estates in April 2009 supported the recommendations of that review. 1,208 out of 1,495 tenants (71%) responded, with residents in Eastfield and Thorplands least satisfied with where they live.
Eastfield and Thorplands will be discussed at next week's Cabinet meeting in advance of a revised bid in the New Year.
Responding to the news, Cabinet member for Housing, Cllr. Sally Beardsworth (Lib Dem, Kingsthorpe), said:
"Our priority is to provide tenants with better homes in which to live and raise their families.
"I now hope we can secure these funds and really make a different to people's lives across Thorplands and Eastfield - after years of neglect by the establishment parties."
If successful, the bid would be the biggest injection of cash in Northampton's social housing stock.
Options to improve Bellinge and Blackthorn are also being looked at as part of the Council's ongoing programme of improving works.
ENDS
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