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Originally Posted by ToffeeGuy
I would think that council would have some sort of 'part-buy' scheme in place so that those on low incomes can afford these renovated houses.
I am almost certain that these houses WON'T be sold to rogue landlords once renovated and that Hyndburn Council will have a social landlord on board with the scheme, someone like Twin Valley Homes, who will oversee responsible letting and maintenance of properties. Plus anyone buying these homes once renovated will probably have conditions attached to the deeds of the property so that they can't be sold on quickly either for a profit or to 'rogue' landlords.
A similar scheme in Nelson was shown on the BBC's Empty Homes show and this has had generally good publicity. Streets of fully renovated properties which people are keen to buy because they have been knocked 2into1 making large four bedroom properties. The Daily Mail should show these.
It is very sad that Woodnook is looking like this. The best thing is probably to demolish them. But in other areas of East Lancashire heritage groups have objected to demolition on the grounds that these types of properties are of historic value. I don't know if this has happened in Accrington.
As for other areas getting the cash first. I don't work for Hyndburn Council. But the Housing Market Renewal scheme was meant to last for 15 years and the ConDem government pulled the plug about 6 years into that period. Unfortunately this has probably meant that some areas which were next now wouldn't get help or help will be delayed until sums are available from other sources. This is what I would guess from articles I have read.
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From my understanding there is to be a system where families on lower incomes will be offered the chance of as you say "let to buy schemes" and not before time IMHO. The infrastrucure of our borough has long gone and unless you are able to find reasonably paid employment outside of manufacturing work your chances of earning decent wages went with the factories. Hopefully these properties when renovated will be affordable to those on the lowest incomes who take pride in going out to "earn a crust" so to speak.
As for the Housing Market Renewal, only the blind wouldn't be able to see where it went when it should have been spread throughout the borough. Hopefully this new scheme will see Woodnook restored to it's former glory, we must wait and see. It is no more than the long suffering residents deserve IMHO