News Three years on for Advance Goole
In 2004, the East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) announced plans to demolish Richard Cooper and Phoenix Streets as part of a housing renewal programme.
Three years later, almost all of the 117 houses are standing empty and the environment of the remaining occupants has been described by a town councillor as "absolutely appalling". So what of the future?
According to Goole Action Group (GAG), which was set up in opposition to the plans, the ERYC should be looking to renovate the two streets. Having carried out their own survey of public opinion, at open events, members say they have more than 300 names in favour of renovation.
Plans and an artist's impression of how the streets could look have been drawn up through Westdale Services, an external rendering and property renovation company.
"The buildings are still in superb condition," said GAG chairman Alan Wilson. "If they were anywhere other than Goole, they'd be classed as mews properties.
'The houses should be handed over to a trust.'
GAG would also like to see the properties go back to those who need them most, and has said people wanting the houses should be prioritised, with those who previously owned houses there and those who have lived in Goole for a while at the top.
They claim they would be able to offer a £25,000 discount on the usual price of the houses, making them affordable homes.
"We want to put the community back into the area," added Mr Wilson.
The demolition plans are part of Advance Goole, which encompasses 55 streets, and also includes a scheme called Youthbuild.
A spokesperson for the ERYC said: "Even though Richard Cooper Street and Phoenix Street attract the most press attention, the fact is the vast majority of the Advance Goole project involves renovation, repair and other initiatives to make the area a better place to live in.
"We are working towards bringing the [Richard Cooper/Phoenix Street] site to the market at the earliest opportunity. This will involve inviting expressions of interest from developers and will then select a preferred developer who would then go through the planning process.
"We have prepared a development brief which outlines what kind of properties and how many the developer would be expected to propose.
'We are keen to redevelop as soon as possible. Only 13 properties out of 117 remain to be purchased (12 are landlord-owned) ahead of schedule. The [Adelphi] warehouse has been purchased and demolished in preparation for the redevelopment."
Regarding the ongoing demolition/renovation debate, the spokesperson said repair and renovation were considered in 2004 but 'there was clear evidence that the best course of action for these streets was demolition and redevelopment.'
The same assessment showed it was not 'economically viable" to repair or renovate the houses, the spokesperson said.
And for the future: "The council, in consultation with the community and Goole Action Group, has come up with the principles of the development it would like to see, such as the rough number of houses and what kind of houses. The preferred developer will be expected to come up with proposals which fit into these general principles."
Renovated homes
First-time buyers are invited to register their interest in buying a house on Percy Street, Old Goole, as part of the Youth Build scheme.
The properties have been renovated by young people. One has been sold, subject to contract, and the others are now approaching completion and have been placed on the market.
Sally Burns, the ERYC's head of housing and public protection, said: "The scheme has been so successful at bringing empty properties back into use and training young people in building skills that the council is actively looking at purchasing empty properties for similar schemes in the near future." If you are a first time buyer with a connection to Goole, register your interest in buying one of the Percy Street properties by ringing Clegg and Son Estate Agents on 01405 763140.
Published on 6th December 2007 in News.
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