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Stoke-on-Trent £1 houses 'can create bright future' | Stoke-on-Trent £1 houses 'can create bright future' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Hundreds of people flooded Stoke-on-Trent Council with enquiries about its £1 homes within 24 hours of applications opening. But what do people living in the area think the effect will be? | Hundreds of people flooded Stoke-on-Trent Council with enquiries about its £1 homes within 24 hours of applications opening. But what do people living in the area think the effect will be? |
One mile from Stoke-on-Trent city centre, dozens of houses in the Portland Street area of Cobridge stand boarded up and neglected, the roads around scattered with litter and the effects of fly-tipping. | |
The corner shop and local pub have been closed since 2009, their windows covered with wood panels and metal screens which are daubed with graffiti. | The corner shop and local pub have been closed since 2009, their windows covered with wood panels and metal screens which are daubed with graffiti. |
But in between the broken roof tiles, crumbling brickwork and fenced off gardens there are pockets of homes that are still lived in and a community centre, with a bright rainbow mural at its entrance, advertising a parent and toddler group. | But in between the broken roof tiles, crumbling brickwork and fenced off gardens there are pockets of homes that are still lived in and a community centre, with a bright rainbow mural at its entrance, advertising a parent and toddler group. |
These houses were originally going to be demolished and the area redeveloped until the government's £1bn national Pathfinder programme scheme was scrapped in 2010. | These houses were originally going to be demolished and the area redeveloped until the government's £1bn national Pathfinder programme scheme was scrapped in 2010. |
Steve Pritchard, from the Portland and Century residents association, said the abandonment of the scheme had left a huge amount of "ill feeling and anger". | Steve Pritchard, from the Portland and Century residents association, said the abandonment of the scheme had left a huge amount of "ill feeling and anger". |
"We lost our shop, our pub was closed, the community suffered and at the time it seemed like a deliberate effort to destroy the area, it was so frustrating," he said. | "We lost our shop, our pub was closed, the community suffered and at the time it seemed like a deliberate effort to destroy the area, it was so frustrating," he said. |
"It's very difficult to get the community energised when you're living in an area where there are so many properties empty and boarded up." | "It's very difficult to get the community energised when you're living in an area where there are so many properties empty and boarded up." |
But news of the £1 home offer and the high level of interest in the 35 derelict properties was "encouraging", he added. | But news of the £1 home offer and the high level of interest in the 35 derelict properties was "encouraging", he added. |
He said: "This can only be a good thing to improve the area. | He said: "This can only be a good thing to improve the area. |
"We are now hearing encouraging noises from private landlords who've previously been reluctant to spend on their properties because of the uncertain future. | "We are now hearing encouraging noises from private landlords who've previously been reluctant to spend on their properties because of the uncertain future. |
"They're saying as soon as they see movement they will actually invest in the area and if that comes together there very much could be a bright future." | "They're saying as soon as they see movement they will actually invest in the area and if that comes together there very much could be a bright future." |
'Depressing' environment | 'Depressing' environment |
Janine Hankey has lived with her family in nearby Century Street for 12 years. | Janine Hankey has lived with her family in nearby Century Street for 12 years. |
She said: "I can't believe 600 people are wanting to move to this area, we've had problems with drug abuse, vandalism and for a family with children it can be a bit daunting. | She said: "I can't believe 600 people are wanting to move to this area, we've had problems with drug abuse, vandalism and for a family with children it can be a bit daunting. |
"We do our best as a community, we've had Christmas and Easter parties for the kids at the community centre and most people are friendly but we really could do with the shop and pub reopening." | "We do our best as a community, we've had Christmas and Easter parties for the kids at the community centre and most people are friendly but we really could do with the shop and pub reopening." |
Stoke-on-Trent City Council said the initial 35 homes would be randomly allocated to the successful applicants but they had to follow strict application criteria. | Stoke-on-Trent City Council said the initial 35 homes would be randomly allocated to the successful applicants but they had to follow strict application criteria. |
People have until 12 May to apply for one. | People have until 12 May to apply for one. |
Ken James, from Denbigh Street, said it had been "depressing" living next to houses which had been boarded up "for years." | Ken James, from Denbigh Street, said it had been "depressing" living next to houses which had been boarded up "for years." |
"We all thought that these houses were going to be knocked down and rebuilt and that led to a lot of good neighbours moving away, it ripped the heart out of our community," he said. | "We all thought that these houses were going to be knocked down and rebuilt and that led to a lot of good neighbours moving away, it ripped the heart out of our community," he said. |
"I think the £1 houses is a good idea that might turn out alright and improve the look of the area. | "I think the £1 houses is a good idea that might turn out alright and improve the look of the area. |
"I had looked at buying one but the rules are really strict, and I think people will find it hard to get around those rules." | "I had looked at buying one but the rules are really strict, and I think people will find it hard to get around those rules." |
'A decent home' | 'A decent home' |
In return for buying the properties, people will be required to renovate them and bring them back into use. | In return for buying the properties, people will be required to renovate them and bring them back into use. |
The city council is offering loans of up to £30,000 to help complete essential repairs on the houses. | The city council is offering loans of up to £30,000 to help complete essential repairs on the houses. |
Anyone taking out the loan would have to pay it back within 10 years at an interest rate of 3% above the Bank of England base rate, which currently stands at 0.5%. | Anyone taking out the loan would have to pay it back within 10 years at an interest rate of 3% above the Bank of England base rate, which currently stands at 0.5%. |
Mark Simpson, a local builder who has been renovating properties in Denbigh Street for a private landlord, told the BBC the houses had potential. | Mark Simpson, a local builder who has been renovating properties in Denbigh Street for a private landlord, told the BBC the houses had potential. |
He said: "We've had a few problems, mainly damp, because many of these houses have stood empty for too long, and people breaking in to steal the copper piping from the bathrooms and kitchens. | He said: "We've had a few problems, mainly damp, because many of these houses have stood empty for too long, and people breaking in to steal the copper piping from the bathrooms and kitchens. |
"I don't know much about what it's like to live in the surrounding area but the houses themselves have a lot of potential. | "I don't know much about what it's like to live in the surrounding area but the houses themselves have a lot of potential. |
"You could make a decent home by investing a minimum of £20,000, he said. | "You could make a decent home by investing a minimum of £20,000, he said. |
"They need new central heating, new kitchens, new bathrooms, and new windows but they could be a decent investment." | "They need new central heating, new kitchens, new bathrooms, and new windows but they could be a decent investment." |
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