Fears funding cuts will hit rebuilding plan across city
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NEW look:?Ash Street, Salford, has been transformed as part of the Chimney Pot Park development
Schemes to knock down and rebuild more than 10,000 homes in run-down areas face huge funding cuts.
‘Pathfinder’ projects have led to the demolition of thousands of homes
in some of the most deprived parts of Salford, east Manchester, Rochdale
and Oldham.
Now the Homes and Communities Agency – which sponsors the schemes – has
been told it must slash the £311m budget by £50m over the next year as
part of £6.25bn of government cuts.
The government and HCA said it was too early to say which schemes in
Greater Manchester would be affected, but former Labour minister Phil
Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, said the cuts were ‘foolish,
unnecessary and ideologically driven’.
Around 13,000 new homes have been built and more than 12,000 refurbished as part of Manchester-Salford Pathfinder since 2003.
The scheme was given £125m in 2003, £106m in 2006 and told it could
expect £140m for 2008-11 – including £42m for 2011. A spokesman for
Manchester-Salford Pathfinder said it expected funds to be cut, but it
was too early to say by how much.
He said: "It is of concern funding previously announced for this year is set to be reduced.
"However, the approach developed in Manchester and Salford will enable
work to continue to strengthen the housing market in the two cities and
ensure that the impact of any reduction on local communities during
2010-11 is minimised."
In Oldham and Rochdale, more than 1,000 homes have been demolished, 400 built and 3,200 refurbished.
The scheme had been promised £28m for the next year, but bosses are now working out how to minimise the impact of cuts.
Mr Woolas described the cuts as folly. "These cuts are not necessary and
are ideologically driven by a Conservative Thatcherism and Lib Dem
naivety."
Reference: Salford Advertiser