Funding go-ahead for Castlefields: A FURTHER £7m of investment into the regeneration of the Castlefields Estate in Runcorn has been announced by the Housing Corporation.

This will bring total Housing Corporation funding up to over £20 million and extend the regeneration beyond the original Masterplan period to April 2009 .

The project, which started in September 2003, is being spearheaded and funded by the Castlefields Partnership, which comprises Halton Borough Council, Liverpool Housing Trust, CDS Housing, The Housing Corporation and English Partnerships.

The overall aim of the project is to create a prosperous, integrated and vibrant community by improving the environmental, economic and social well being of Castlefields, whilst achieving the highest possible standards in terms of design and development.

Several housing projects funded by LHT and CDS Housing - with the assistance of the Housing Corporation - are already complete, resulting in the demolition of 664 deck access flats and the provision of over 440 new dwellings for rent and shared ownership. Whilst an additional 300 new dwellings are planned for outright sale on sites adjacent the Bridgewater Canal.

This second phase of funding will part finance the construction of a further 150 high quality dwellings - like the award-winning Waterbridge Mews, winner of the prestigious Regional Property Award for Partnership Development, and lead to the demolition of an additional 150 deck access flats.

Two of the projects to be funded by the Housing Corporation will be within the proposed new Village Square. This funding commitment allows the partnership to progress with the scheme.

The new square will provide a mix of community facilities, retail outlets and residential accommodation. It will be the main focal point, offering both public amenity space and access into the main centre.

The housing programme is complemented and supported by a range of key initiatives to improve the estates infrastructure and service provision, many of which are already completed or under construction, including:

-Public realm lighting improvements;

-The creation of a new state of the art 2.6 million pound youth activity park ‘Phoenix Parrk’ incorporating a skate park, under 5s’ and 12s’ play area, multi-use games area, climbing boulder, five-a-side football pitch and park pavilion which will attract people from Halton and beyond. Parts of the park are open now, with the official opening event to take place on 4 June;

-The construction of a £1m shared use link road, which opened this weekend. Replacing a section of the segregated busway system the new link road will provide direct access for buses, cars, pedestrians, and cyclists to the new village square ;

-The closure of problematic pedestrian subways to be replaced with new surface level crossings, and the upgrading of remaining subways; and

- New and improved pedestrian links.

Work is continuing with still much to do, and while only time will tell the true success of the project, early signs are positive. Residents seem pleased with progress so far.

One happy resident who has recently moved into their new LHT built home said: “ My new house is absolutely beautiful. I feel like I’ve won the lottery. There’s more space and better storage than I had before and you should see my garden!” Posted on April 12, 2006