£87m communities boost

Above: A house on Melrose Street, west Hull, which was upgraded through Gateway, and (below), a house on the same street before work started

Work to transform housing and communities in Hull has received a further boost with the announcement of an £87 million Government grant.
The work, being carried out under the Gateway Pathfinder scheme, will take place in the Newington and St.Andrews wards in west Hull and the Ings and Preston Road areas in east Hull.
Around £50 million has already been spent in these areas under the scheme, which has included the building of 150 new homes and the refurbishment of around 500 others.
But the new money, which together with cash from private sector partners amounts to a total of £150 million to be invested over the next three years, will enable these projects to be fully completed.
It will also ensure that the next phases of development get the go ahead, following consultation with local communities.
Those plans are expected to include:

• external improvements for over 1,500 privately-owned homes
• the building of around 600 new homes
• the acquisition and demolition of around 700 houses in some of the worst areas to make way for new homes and community facilities
• new and improved green spaces
• the creation of new jobs and training opportunities

"This is very exciting news for Hull," says Gateway chair Stuart Whyte. "It brings us a step closer to creating the kind of places that will attract more people to live, learn, work and invest in the city."

For more information contact 300300 or visit www.gatewayhull.co.uk