Project type: A Re-modelling Exercise
Client: Hull City Council
A joint tender submission was made between The Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation and Hull City Services Technical Consultancy to the Preston Road New Deal for Communities Project to undertake a Master Planning Exercise. The submission was successful.
LOCATION AND HISTORY OF THE AREA
The Preston Road New Deal for Communities area lies to the east of Hull. The majority of the estate is pre-war and consists of 2,897 properties (84.5% Council owned) and a population of about 6,500 people. The estate traditionally provided employees for the docks and the railways until the decline of these industries.
The population of the estate is predominately white, with only 0.8% of ethnic minority origin.
The estate is physically divided into four quarters by a dual carriageway (Preston Road) and by the Holderness Drain, a waterway that serves as a drain for agricultural land in the East Riding.
Although there is a range of amenities on the boundary of the Preston Road estate there is only one shop and very few facilities within the neighbourhood.
Household income levels for the Kingston upon Hull Local Authority are the lowest in Great Britain, and are exceptionally low on Preston Road itself. Car ownership on the estate is low and most people are dependant on bus transport. To travel across the City from Preston Road is difficult and requires more than one bus. This, coupled with the high cost of public transport, adds to the sense of isolation and the difficulties of seeking employment elsewhere in the City.
The housing stock on Preston Road is generally in a poor state of repair. Much of it dates from between the wars, a high proportion is of non-traditional design and the streets are narrow with poor car parking.
35.4% of the population on the estate are under 16 years of age. There is high unemployment on the estate with 19.3% registered as unemployed. 31% of households on the estate earn £5,000 per annum or less and a further 62.6% of households earn less than £10,000 per annum.
CONCLUSIONS
It was clear from the consultation events that residents were beginning to get frustrated about constantly being asked for their opinions and wanted to see plans begin to be implemented.
They were particularly concerned to find out when their houses would be improved.
The main decision they have to make now is which Masterplan option they want to see implemented.
For more information contact NIF 01952 590777 or email admin@nif.co.uk
