‘The street is brighter and cleaner – obviously it’s a great improvement’ Sean Shillingford – Chair of Hutson Street Community Association.

Housing in the area has seen big changes in the last few years.

Hundreds of privately owned houses have already benefited from the Facelift Plus,Warm, Dry & Safe and Home Improve schemes with many more set to follow. Bulldozers have seen the back of old flats preparing the way for redevelopment. Development partners Keepmoat PLC will soon be building more new homes for sale or rent on the Hutson Street site.

Linked to this Bradford Community Housing Trust is investing £27m upgrading the tower blocks in Park lane area. The property improvements and associated environmental works are already transforming the area.

@ Home in BD5,the one stop housing shop, continues to offer a wide range of help and advice in addition to undertaking liaison work with residents whose property are being improved. The Homeloans Scheme helps residents fund their Matched Incentive and Facelift contributions.

The Housing for Healthier Hearts and Occupational Therapy schemes seek to improve conditions for those living with chronic illness and disability by installing appropriate facilities and helping residents claim grants for items such as insulation/ ventilation etc.

Another key challenge is to address problems such as high turnover of properties, a lack of choice and poor standards of management and property repair in the privately rented sector. This was addressed by the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Team which worked proactively with landlords to drive up standards.

Community Director Greg Lucas says, ‘All in all it means a better quality of life for residents in both private and public housing.’