Tameside OKs £100m scheme

Pioneering plans for the first phase of more than 900 new homes for Hattersley have been given the green light by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (MBC).Phase one is an ambitious £100m project to completely regenerate the 1960s estate and involves the construction of 173 properties.This phase of the transformation of Hattersley is being undertaken by BASE, a joint venture between Barratt Homes, Britain’s biggest housebuilder and leading regenerator, and Artisan Property Group, the Manchester-based design-led, mixed use development specialist. BASE is working in partnership with Tameside MBC, Peak Valley Housing Association, a subsidiary of the Contour Housing Group, and national regeneration agency English Partnerships, following extensive and long-running consultation with residents and other interested parties.A range of housing from one to four bedrooms and one and two-bedroom apartments is proposed by BASE.Construction of phase one is due to start this autumn and will take approximately three-and-a-half years to complete. Planning applications for further phases of the scheme are due to be submitted shortly.In total, there are some 27 sites for development in Hattersley. The £250m vision involves not only the provision of the new homes by BASE but also the delivery of new public areas and shopping, community and commercial facilities, including improved roads, parking and public space.The proposals include “home zones” in the heart of Hattersley that allow pedestrians and vehicles to mix safely.In addition to the new housing, the project will also generate funds for Peak Valley Housing Association to support a £40m programme of improvements to existing properties on the estate.All 1,000 homes will be required to meet English Partnerships’ high urban design and quality standards and achieve the design and environmental performance standard set by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), the Government’s advisor on architecture, urban design and public space.Stephen Boyes, Director of BASE and Main Board Director Of Barratt Homes, said, “The redevelopment of Hattersley offers us a unique opportunity to create a new and revitalised community. We can enhance the image of Hattersley as a place where people want to live, work and visit.”Jason Millett, BASE Director and Deputy Chief Executive of Artisan Property Group, said, “Hattersley will set standards for future residential development and in particular attract a broad and mixed community to settle on a long-term basis even if their housing needs should change.”Paul Spooner, English Partnerships’ Regional Director for the North West and West Midlands, said, “We are delighted that we can now start work on the ground with partners and the Hattersley community to bring about the radical changes we have developed together to deliver a truly sustainable community and help to restore confidence in the area.“This is an excellent example of the Government’s agenda in transforming mono-tenure, polarised council estates into successful mixed communities and was hailed an exemplar by Ruth Kelly when she was Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.”
Tameside Council Executive Leader, Councillor Roy Oldham, added, “We welcome the building of brand new, private homes in Hattersley as part of this groundbreaking phase of the project which will mean the area will offer a full range of housing choices in a wonderful location. This will attract more people into the area, helping to sustain the community in the future. “In addition this will bring more investment into the area improving the public realm and open spaces, providing new and improved community and leisure facilities for existing and new residents to enjoy."Phil Corris, Managing Director of Peak Valley Housing Association, said, “Our aim is to create a strong and thriving community within which existing residents feel proud and new residents aspire to come and live.“

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BASE is a joint venture between design-led, mixed use development specialist Artisan Property Group and Barratt Homes, Britain's premier and best known housebuilder and leading urban regenerator.The pioneering partnership was formed in 2005 to address the housing renewal agenda and Government policy by creating a market-leader in urban regeneration combining the innovative, design-led expertise of Artisan with the national volume house building strength of Barratt.BASE bid successfully for major mixed-use regeneration projects throughout Greater Manchester such as those in East Central Rochdale, Oldham, Hattersley and West Gorton.The joint venture's first two housing schemes - those for Trafalgar Street and Dale Mill in Rochdale - were winners in the 2007 Housing Design Awards.The importance BASE places on breathing new life into communities by creating places where people want to live and work is reflected in its appointment of Lisa Bowden as Community Regeneration Manager. Lisa develops relationships with communities affected by BASE schemes to ensure they are fully consulted and to maximise the social and economic benefits of regeneration such as employment and training.English Partnerships is the government’s national regeneration agency delivering high quality, sustainable growth in England. We do this by developing our portfolio of strategic projects and acting as the government’s advisor on brownfield land. We also ensure that surplus public sector assets are used to support wider government objectives. English Partnerships helps create communities where people can afford to live and want to live.English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation are working with the Department for Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed Homes and Communities Agency.For further information, please contact:
Kathryn HaydenEnglish Partnershipstel: 01925 644623email: kathrynhayden@englishpartnerships.co.uk


Quite what Jason Millett means when he says he wants to “attract a broad and mixed community to settle on a long-term basis even if their housing needs should change.” I am not sure; maybe a form of social engineering as seen in many parts of Manchester? It is also worth closely scrutinising the contract tenders etc for not so obvious links between the Labour party and all parties involved in this scheme.
Tameside Citizen