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Research shows life in pathfinder areas is improving
| Published | 1 March 2007 |
|---|
Housing markets and population levels in the nine pathfinder areas are in a better position than for many years, new research shows.
Housing markets and population levels in the nine pathfinder areas are in a better position than for many years, new research shows.The Housing Market Renewal (HMR) Baseline Evaluation report published today shows that the pathfinders have made a strong start in reviving housing markets in their areas; however there remains considerable progress to be made over the lifetime of the programme.
Vacancies and low value sales have fallen, and demand for social housing has increased. Although pathfinders cannot be credited with all these improvements, it is clear that the HMR programme has played a crucial role in rebuilding confidence amongst both communities and investors.
Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper said:
"This research demonstrates the real difference the Housing Market Renewal programme is making to improve people's lives in the nine pathfinder areas by tackling low demand, abandonment and anti-social behaviour.
"Despite this progress, there are still significant long term challenges for the pathfinders to meet in order to turn round our most deprived housing market areas. That is why we are committed to continued investment in the programme, and asking the pathfinders to identify ways of maximising private investment too."
Key findings of the report include:
- In most pathfinders, the proportion of very low value sales under £50,000 has fallen very sharply;
- The pathfinders are on course to reduce the gap between their area and the regional average for both vacancy rates and house-prices by a third by 2010;
- Vacancy rates have dropped from 5.6 per cent in 2001 to 4.8 per cent, and the percentage of vacancies resulting from abandonment has fallen from 15.2 per cent to 11.5 per cent over the same period;
- The percentage of new social tenants that are working full time has increased from 20 per cent in 2001 to 24 per cent in 2005, much closer to the national average of 24.8 per cent;
- Overall, local residents have supported the proposals and the pathfinders have placed substantial emphasis on community engagement;
- The quality of research and intelligence on which the pathfinders' strategies are based is very high, and sounder than for any previous regeneration programme.
Notes to editors:
1. The following research has been published today:- Housing Market Renewal Baseline Report providing a baseline relating to 2003 against which progress up to the end of 2005 can be benchmarked.
- Buy-to-Let Housing Market: The Experience of the HMR Pathfinders in the Early Stages of the Programme-Thematic Paper
- Skills and Capacity in the HMR Pathfinders: the Experience of Pathfinders in the Early Stages of the Programme-Thematic Paper
Further evaluation reports are planned for publication in 2007.
2. The Housing Market Renewal programme was established in 2003 to turn round areas suffering from abandonment, boarded up houses and anti-social behaviour. £1.2bn has been provided by Communities and Local Government for the HMR programme to 2008.
3. The nine pathfinders are North Staffordshire; Hull and East Riding; South Yorkshire, East Lancashire, Manchester and Salford; Merseyside; Newcastle Gateshead; Oldham and Rochdale and Birmingham Sandwell.
4. The programmes' objectives are to close the gap in vacancy rates and house prices between pathfinders and their respective regions by a third by 2010; and eradicate the problems caused by low demand by 2020.
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