Leeds residents will 'shape' new buildings
Residents are being recruited to help shape the £80m regeneration of Holbeck and Beeston.
Leeds City Council is setting up a group of householders keen to have a long-term involvement in steering the regeneration.
The Community Advisory Group will play a major role, including selecting the preferred contractor for an £80m rebuild of Holbeck Towers.
The group will also be responsible for selecting building designs.
Val Smith, of the council's regeneration team, said the group was being established specifically for this project.
"It won't have the power to veto but it will look at specifics, such as the procurement of a preferred contractor.
"We'll be taking them on site visits where they can see elements of different housing designs and get involved in the design workshops and we're bringing in design advisers to help give people the skills they need to make decisions."
Holbeck Towers – the six blocks of flats on Holbeck Moor Road – are expected to be demolished in 2010 and redeveloped as part of a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) which will also see redevelopment of Cambrian Terrace, The Bismarks, Folly Lane and the Maisonettes, Fairfax and the Malverns in Beeston Hill.
The process of moving residents out of 400 flats at Holbeck Towers is already under way.
Holbeck Elderly Aid – based in offices on the ground floor of one block – has been maintaining links between Aire Valley Homes, the organisation managing the council housing stock, and residents to keep them informed.
Anyone interested in being part of the advisory group should contact Val Smith on 0113 247 8125.
Posted: Tuesday, September 02, 2008
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