Livin has been working with residents on the Jubilee Fields Estate in Shildon on a social regeneration programme since 2017. New provision has been introduced such as the Foundation of Light’s Kicks sessions, Livin Futures, school holiday programmes, breakfast clubs and dementia cafes.
In addition to the social programme of works a large number of residents from the Courts area of the estate identified a need for a change to their properties and surround. Livin own a large number of properties within the Courts so Livin and the residents came together at the end of 2017 to work on a redesign for the area.
The redesign proposed will see improvements to house frontages including rendering, windows and doors, gardens and fencing; it will also see open spaces and parking improved and the highway entrances to the courts changed.
Engagement with residents, owners, landlords and leaseholders took place throughout 2018 and into 2019.
In May 2019 the Livin Board agreed to invest substantial funding to regenerate Aspen, Laurel and Spruce Courts. Unfortunately, due to insufficient support from residents in Almond and Lilac Courts Livin were not able to progress the transformational change they had envisaged at the start. This does not mean that this will not be considered with residents going forward as Livin would welcome the opportunity to continue planning for change with residents of Lilac and Almond Courts.
Livin is aware of the issues affecting the quality of life for residents in the Courts. Livin has a vested interest in this as it owns 61% of the properties. We are committed to improving the area and have developed with the residents detailed plans to improve both the environment and the properties.
The plan proposed facelift improvements for all properties including render, new doors and windows.
In response to consultation feedback, additional improvements (where space allows) has includes allocated parking spaces, improved and extended garden spaces and improved landscaping and road layouts.
Overall the improvements will create a modern looking and better designed estate which Livin believe will increase demand for empty homes in the Courts as well as benefiting existing tenants and residents.
The flats or maisonettes in all five Courts have been redesigned to convert into ten larger properties to deliver homes for larger families and specialist needs.
There is insufficient support at present for the proposed transformational redesign from the residents of Almond and Lilac, but Livin would welcome the opportunity to continue planning for change with residents from these two Courts should that support increase. The flats in these two Courts will still be part of the agreed regeneration and will be converted.
Yes, owner occupiers and private landlords are being given the opportunity to buy in to the improvements.
Yes, there will be a cost involved. Livin has been discussing this with individual owner occupiers, private landlords and leaseholders. A range of options to finance the works is available depending on individual circumstances.
Some additional parking will be provided where possible and all parking provisions will meet minimum Local Authority requirements.
The site plan identifies the proposed parking arrangements.
Initial discussions have taken place with the Local Authority Planning Department.
The planning application was submitted in the last week of August 2019 and will take approximately thirteen weeks to process.
Works will begin early 2020 but this is dependent on planning permission being granted and buy-in from owners and landlords.
A timetable for how long the improvements will take and where works will start has yet to be finalised, but Livin will work with all residents and owners at every step to notify in advance, manage individual needs and minimise disruption.
Planning permission will be submitted in June.
Further discussions will take place with owners, landlords and leaseholders regarding the programme and their commitment to it.
Weekly drop in sessions will be held at 28 Laurel Court, starting week commencing 24 June with an afternoon session on a Wednesday from 3pm to 4pm and an evening session on a Thursday from 5.30pm to 6.30pm . The property will be partially rendered and will contain the proposed materials for the scheme so residents can examine. The drop in will also provide the opportunity for questions and queries to be brought forward and discussed.
A closed Facebook page has been set up as well as this web page to help keep residents up to date with the schemes progress.
You can contact us in the following ways:
Email: community-regeneration@livin.co.uk
Telephone: 0800 587 4538
Facebook: The Courts Regeneration Residents Group