Woodside, Telford
Background
The £60m Woodside project will deliver the physical transformation of a 72 ha site covering the Woodside Estate in Telford. It will result in a cohesive "urban village" with new and re-established connections to surrounding communities, a new village centre, improved parks and open spaces and re-shaped neighbourhoods.
Alongside English Partnerships, the project team includes the Borough of Telford & Wrekin, Wrekin Housing Trust, the Housing Corporation and Advantage West Midlands, all working together towards the regeneration of the socially deprived area.
The 10-year project includes:
- Purchase and demolition of homes suffering from very low demand which caused a blight on the rest of the estate and neighbourhood.
- Remodelling the estate to overcome problems associated with the design, which will help to eliminate crime black spots and unsafe areas.
- Re-development of the existing retail facilities to provide modern accommodation which will contribute to the new heart of the village.
- Provision of a multi-use community centre.
- New build housing for sale and rent on infill sites within the estate and also on development sites next to the estate
- Environmental improvements to public open spaces and housing areas.
- Neighbourhood management of the improved environment – a village management board has already been formed from residents and the council.
Current status
Following the demolition of 350 deck-access flats, a scheme by Bellway for 191 homes will start on site in the summer 2008, subject to planning consent this Spring.
Meanwhile Wrekin Housing Trust will be building an Extra Care facility at Woodside. Planning consent has already been secured and construction is anticipated to start in the summer.
The Bellway scheme will form the central residential core of the new development at Woodside, linking housing healthcare, retail and recreation. It will be crucial in terms of creating the right balance of homes for both existing and future generations of residents.
Work elsewhere at Woodside has been progressing well with some neighbourhoods having already been remodelled along the principles of a “home zone” layout, which strikes a balance between road traffic and everyone else who uses the street. New trees have been planted, new benches and public spaces included and the parking areas reworked.
Around 3,000 homes in the Woodside area will benefit from improvements over the lifetime of the project and the multi-use Park Lane community centre is now open following an investment of £4.4m. Facilities within this centre will also include a new nursery/childcare facility, a family centre, social care and new education amenities.