Livin has this week released the results of its official community consultation on the proposed Western estate regeneration project.
Over the past 14 months, the not-for-profit housing association has carried out extensive consultation contacting every household on the estate and presenting three options for the area.
Despite the lengthy consultation period only 280 (of 516 in total) households responded. The level of support for the options was:
- Option 1 – refurbishment of existing homes – 9%
- Option 2 – refurbishment of existing homes and partial demolition and rebuild – 17%
- Option 3 – full demolition and rebuild of the whole estate – 51%
- No preference – 23%
Alan Boddy, director of operations for Livin said: “These results show that, despite the misleading and inaccurate information being spread by a vocal minority throughout the process, 68% of residents want something to happen. However the reality is that the results also show there was not sufficiently strong community support for any one of the options. This means the physical regeneration of the estate cannot go ahead.”
The project, which had it proceeded to redevelopment, would have brought millions of pounds of investment to the area and provided more homes as well as improved community facilities, open spaces and safer street designs, would have been the largest regeneration scheme in Newton Aycliffe for years. This outcome now means that the masterplan for the estate cannot be developed and the planned Residents’ Charter that would have set out the rights and protections for all households cannot be discussed.
Mr Boddy added: “We are disappointed this cannot progress. We always said the regeneration of this estate would be led by the community and would only progress with strong community support. We are encouraging all residents and other stakeholders to now get involved and work with us to determine what is next for the Western estate.”
