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8/13/2019 Langley Newsletter
1/8
March 2011
Transformingneighbourhoods toimprove lives
EARLY
PROGRESS
see page 3
BIG
CHANGES
see page 4
Bownessshops
newlook
HMR
TO END
see page 2
8/13/2019 Langley Newsletter
2/8p 2 Changingl FrvrMarch 2011
hMR to end,But tRansFoRMation
should continueHMR to end, but transformation should continue
The Housing Market Renewal funding for Oldham and
Rochdale, and other parts of the country came to an end at
the end of March.
Since 2004 HMR has invested more than 200 million
across the two boroughs, attracting millions more in
investment by developer and housing association partners.
In Langley more than 14 million has been spent, buying
houses and various other properties, clearing sites as wellenhancing the environment.
We have made very good progress towards transforming
our neighbourhoods, in the face of extremely challenging
economic conditions. But the work is not yet complete.
The announcement that funding is ending presents huge
challenges for the future. Whilst we have made good
progress, there is much that still needs to be done. Despite
the cuts in Council budgets that need to be made for the
coming year, Rochdale Council has identied some funds
to carry out some of this outstanding work in Langley. In
the coming year around 1 million will allow us to get somehousing development started and fund clearance and
preparation for more new homes.
Funds are no longer available to support a dedicated
Sustainable Communities team for Langley. Area Director
Steve Bloomer will continue to work on Langley for the
time being and support will also be available through the
Middleton Township Team.
This also means that this is the last edition of the
Changing Langley Forever newsletter, but thats not to
say there wont be opportunities to provide information in
the future, and Riverside will continue to produce
The Vision.
We would like to thank the tenants and residents of
Langley for their continued support and co-operation.
We are extremely proud of what has been achieved in
Langley over the past few years and we hope that other
sources of funding will be available ion the future to ensure
that the estate continues to thrive. We will continue to
manage and maintain the sites that are in our ownership
and work will continue to attract a developer to build new
housing on Langley in the future.
c
Steve Bloomer, Area Director Council Ofces, Sadler
Street, Middleton, M24 5UJ
t(10706) 923128 m [email protected].
8/13/2019 Langley Newsletter
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er rr
The progress that Housing
Market Renewal has made
to transform Langley has been
part of wider efforts by manypartners. In this nal edition
of Changing Langley Forever
we take a look back at how
Langley has changed.
In the early years, much of what we did was aimed
at making the neighbourhood look more attractive.
Almost 700 homes had their boundaries improved with
a combination of brick-built garden walls and railings
replacing hedges and wooden fences. Using different
colours and styles gave streets their own unique identity.
Taking cars of the roads eased access around Langley,
making it safer for drivers and pedestrians. Front gardenparking spaces, and making other spaces available made
a big difference. At the same time, ginnel gating made
hundreds of properties more secure, helping to reduce
crime and anti social behaviour.
Housing Market Renewal allowed us to buy sites across
Langley where new development is anticipated. We
bought and cleared the ats on Helvellyn, as well as the
Cardinals Hat and Sporting Falcon sites.
Before After
Before After
Changingl FrvrMarch 2011 p 3
8/13/2019 Langley Newsletter
4/8p 4 Changingl FrvrMarch 2011
deMolition BRingsBig changes
Martindale
Some of the demolition Housing Market Renewal has
carried out in Langley has been really eye-catching
none more so than the clearance of the Three Sisters last
year. Pulling the empty buildings apart from the top down
made a huge difference to the landscape of the estateand created an attractive site for future development.
But they werent the only buildings that have gone.
Twenty four ats on Rothay Drive, ve empty cottage
ats that had been an eyesore for several years, and the
former Langley primary school have created potential
sites where new homes could appear in the future.
Rothay pre and post demolition
Most recently, buying the former Langley library, community centre and former Methodist
church at Martindale Crescent creates a development site close to Bowlee Park primary school
and the link to Bowlee playing elds.
Langley ats
8/13/2019 Langley Newsletter
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Changingl FrvrMarch 2011 p 5
new hoMes appeaR(with moreto follow)Bringing a bigger choice of high quality new homes
for Langley was one of the biggest aims of the project,and the homes that have been completed are certainly
striking and attractive additions.
Built to replace the tower blocks, Riverside Housings
developments at Millbeck Gardens and Rydal Gardens
on Wood Street were built with support from housing
market renewal, funding landscaping around the
buildings and providing advice on making the homes
environmentally-friendly.
Developers Lovell are providing 50 family homes atWindermere Park with funding from the Kickstart
initiative, providing a mix of homes for rent, sale and
shared ownership.
Photographs from top:
Millbeck ice
Aerial Rydal Gardens before and after
Lovell Development
8/13/2019 Langley Newsletter
6/8p 6 Changingl FrvrMarch 2011
Bowness Roadshops lose theiRFlats and gain aBRighteR lookTaking the top two levels off the shops on Bowness Road
was the challenge faced by engineers from Rochdale
Council and the Impact Partnership. Residents in the ats
above the shops were helped to nd new homes, and
the work began in January.
As part of the Housing Market Renewal plans for the
neighbourhood the project is now successfully complete.
A complex structure of scaffolding covered the building,
and stood up very well to the worst of the winter weather.
After the demolition of the ats, which took great care to
protect the shop premises below, the builders put a new
pitched roof on the premises.
While the demolition work was being carried out, each
of the shops closed for a short time to allow contractors
to carry out the work safely, though it was possible to
ensure the Bowness Pharmacy could stay open through
the works. The shops have now re-opened in their
revamped premises, giving a welcome boost to this
corner of the estate.
8/13/2019 Langley Newsletter
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Changingl FrvrMarch 2011 p 7
Bowlee linkBRings BigchangesWith its attractive landscaping and the recent addition
of modern, well equipped childrens play areas, its easyto forget that before Housing Market Renewal, the land
alongside Bowlee primary school used to be a neglected
wasteland.
The project in 2006 transformed it into a popular link
through to Bowlee Community Park.
Pupils at the school worked with an artist to create the
designs for the eye-catching steel totem pole marking the
entrance. Dozens of mature trees planted at the time are
now becoming well established.
The Link Corridor is just one feature of how HousingMarket Renewal has helped to improve the environment
for Langley. Transforming the area is about more than just
bricks and mortar this is just one example of how we
were able to create an area that everyone can enjoy.
And having an appealing environment will help to attract
developers to build on the sites for new homes around
Langley. The buildings around Martindale Crescent are
now cleared to create the latest site where new homes
could appear in the future.
tRuFFet paRk langleys gReenFlag jewelAlongside the Housing Market Renewal investment in
Langley, big changes for the better have been made to
Langleys very own Green Flag park.
Truffet Park on Bowness Road now boasts a fantasticchildrens play area, new ood lighting, public toilets and
improved access for disabled visitors at the bowling
pavilion. All this has helped to win the park its Green Flag,
which it has retained for a second year.
The park also offers tennis courts, a sensory garden,
a wetland area and nature trails. Now that spring has
arrived the whole of the park is starting to come into
bloom.
Much of the success of the park is the result of the
dedicated Friends of Truffet Park group, who meetregularly to plan events and activities for the park. If you
would like to get more actively involved, why not call into
the Bowling Pavilion to nd out more information about
the group.
8/13/2019 Langley Newsletter
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The progress we have made through
Housing Market Renewal would not
have been possible without involving
local people throughout. Thats why
at every stage its been important to
make sure you had your say on what
changes were being made.
And what you said made a big
difference. One important issue was
the poor quality of the environment
locally, with many under-used and
poorly managed open spaces. As a
result our Green Space Strategy set
out plans to improve these spaces
over time.
Alongside this, consultation events
took place across the estate. More
than 400 people took the chance to
make their views clear. More than
two thirds of the responses we got
were in favour of proposals, but at
the same time the views of people
who werent happy were taken into
account. We made changes to the
plans, scaling back the number
of houses that were likely to be
demolished.
Over the last few years, the Langley
team has arranged many community
events across the estate that have
helped to bring people together to
nd out information about making
the most of services, to hear the
latest on new developments and
also to have fun. Lots of the events
were an opportunity for local groups
to perform, and for people to nd
out about the voluntary groups that
contribute so much to Langleys
community.
Supporting local groups has also
been an important job for the Langley
HMR team. Weve been able to help
local organisations to win funding
from Neighbourhood Renewal and
the Safer Stronger Communities
Fund, making a big difference to
everyone who lives here.
krrfr l
rBuilding work to improve pedestrianaccess to Langley was helped along
by a constant supply of hot cups of
tea, and biscuits, from Lee Street
resident Margaret Spooner.
During the upheaval Miss Spooner
has brewed more than a hundred
cuppas, looking after the workmen
from Jackson, Jackson & Sons who
have carried out the work as part
of the Housing Market Renewal
transformation on the estate.
And just around the corner, where the
ginnel between Bonscale Crescent
and Langley Lane has been widened,
neighbour Celia Kay looked after the
contractors throughout the work.
So as a thank you, staff from the
Langley team and Jackson & Jackson
visited Miss Spooner and Mrs Kay to
present them with a box of tea and
biscuits.
The improvements at Lee Street and
Bonscale Crescent will allow easier
access for pedestrians and cyclists.
At the ginnel between Bonscale
Crescent and Langley Lane, the
old walls have been replaced with
attractive brick-built ones featuring
colourful tiles. The ginnel is wider,
creating a safer, more welcoming
environment.
Fr mr frmplease contact
Steve Bloomer, Angela Forster, Katie Fletcher
or Michelle Walton at the Council ofces,
Fountain Street, Middleton M24 1AF
Tel: 01706 923137
or visit .mrmr..
p 8 Changing l Frvr March 2011
t r b m
vb r frm.
t
01706 923137
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