Background
The Galleys Bank estate has a number of housing problems. Some of the former National Coal Board houses need improvement work as mortgages can not be secured on them because they were designated defective under the 1985 Housing Act. Some of these 'Schindler' properties are in poor condition.
Grants allowed some of the Schindler properties to be structurally repaired during the 1990s - but this money was not available to improve all the properties and unimproved houses are scattered throughout the estate.
Because owner-occupiers are finding it difficult to secure mortgages on the properties, a number of private landlords owning many houses in the area have purchased properties on the estate at auction very cheaply. High levels of private renting continue to cause wider problems, in particular the problem of some private landlords not maintaining their properties and tenants being afraid to report repairs for fear of eviction.
As a result many properties are falling into disrepair and the number of people moving in and out of these houses is having a negative effect on the community. In addition, environmental quality is poor with narrow roads, small cul-de-sacs, chaotic parking, and ill-maintained gardens and open spaces.
The high level of private ownership on the estate is proving to be a barrier to identifying a solution to the problems. Although the Galleys Bank estate is not currently suffering housing market failure, RENEW North Staffordshire recognises there are concerns that the fundamental problems on the estate will impact upon its long-term future.
New development within the Galleys Bank estate is difficult as there are no significant amounts of open space that could be used to build on. However, RENEW is committed to developing a private sector solution to the housing issues facing the Galleys Bank estate.
To find out more about what is planned for Galleys Bank, click here or visit our interactive map.
