Residents in Middleport welcome property upgrade
05 November 2010
More than 160 properties in the heart of Middleport have been transformed as part of a £1.1million investment program.
The exteriors of homes in Maddock Street, Morton Street, Woolrich Street and Burgess Street, have received a ‘face lift’ as part of a project between Renew and Midland Heart, the third registered social landlord for the Middleport area.
The properties, which are both privately owned and rented from private landlords and social landlord Midland Heart, have been completely transformed with external improvements including doors, windows, sills, lintels, doorsteps, brickwork, paintwork, rain water goods and rendering.
Keith Vincent, who lives in a Midland Heart property in Woolrich Street, said: “I was over the moon to move into a property which has been improved. The outlook of the area has been transformed, it looks ten times better”.
The ten month project has been funded by Renew North Staffordshire and delivered in partnership with Midland Heart.
The works have seen the outside of homes tidied up to improve the outlook of the area and complement other regeneration schemes in the town.
Councillor Mervin Smith, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for city development, said: “This scheme has made a real difference to the appearance of the streets and the lives of residents involved. The improvements help to not only brighten the street scene but also make a real difference to the lives of the residents’ living in the properties.”
The scheme is part of the extensive regeneration improvements in the Middleport area. These include:
Extra care facilities on the former Woods Pottery site
- Heritage improvement scheme for properties in Port Street opposite the historic Burleigh Pottery site
- Redevelopment of the Slater Street area which will include family housing, affordable units and other housing tenures - landlords
Carl Larter, director of new business and development at Midland Heart said: “Within ten months, we have restored a sense of pride in the neighbourhood by working closely with the community and our partners. Everyone has pulled together to bring an overall improvement and we are delighted with the results”.
