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Telford & Wrekin Council has approved plans to improve
housing in Sutton Hill.
The plans are part of the Borough Towns Initiative, which aims
to regenerate Borough Towns and local neighbourhoods across the
borough. The local centres in Brookside and Sutton Hill are among
the first areas to be focused on.
A recent public meeting in Sutton Hill highlighted a number of
issues that residents say affect their quality of life. One of
these issues relates to empty dwellings in the area.
Some of the empty homes are privately owned and in need of
urgent repair or refurbishment whilst others are so badly damaged
that they need to be demolished. We are looking into a number of
options for their future use. We may acquire empty dwellings for
improvement and resale, most likely to a housing association. Where
this is not viable, we would consider demolition and earmark for
future redevelopment.
A dual approach has been adopted to acquire some dwellings by
negotiation with private owners whilst also using the full range of
powers available to the Council including improvement notices and
compulsory purchase orders.
The measures coincide with the Council's consultations, called
"Working with you for a better Sutton Hill and Brookside". The aim
of these is to gather residents' views and to give local people a
role in enhancing their community.
Residents have already played a big part in the consultation
process by attending regular community meetings set up by the
council and providing valuable feedback on neighbourhood
repairs.
The Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, Cllr Andrew Eade
said: "Improving housing in Sutton Hill is all part of the
Council's commitment to regenerating the area. Through public
consultation, we recognise that housing is one of the main issues
that people want addressed to improve their quality of life. We are
committed to regenerating the Borough Towns and local
neighbourhoods and to promoting a safe and sustainable environment
for all."
The Council is keen for as many people as possible to join in
the consultation process. The closing date for the questionnaires
return is Friday 23rd May. Each returned questionnaire will be put
into a prize draw to win £50. They can be dropped into Civic
Offices or Darby House or returned to the Council using the
freepost envelope. To date, 25% of those living in Sutton Hill have
responded and 22% in
Brookside. |