City freezes regeneration plans worth millions

City regeneration agency Gateway said it had lost 4.5m of the 28m grant it was expecting for 2010-11. The shortfall means a halt on plans to:

n Buy and demolish about 140 properties in Anlaby Road and Hawthorn Avenue;

n Improve 167 houses in the Stirling Street area and in St George's Grove;

n Carry out street-scene improvements in Hessle Road, Hawthorn Avenue South, Alliance Avenue, De La Pole Avenue, Edinburgh Street, Glasgow Street and Somerset Street;

n Clear sub-standard properties in the Bilton Grove and Mappleton Grove areas of Preston Road.

Hull Council will seek alternative sources of funding for some schemes and others will not be affected.

Coun Rick Welton, Cabinet member for housing and regeneration, said: "We are still just a few years into delivering a long-term plan to transform our neighbourhoods and local people are really beginning to see and feel the benefits of the regeneration.

"Whilst the constraints on public spending will mean that the work may take longer, it's important that we continue to deliver the plans we have developed with communities.

"During 2010-11, the Gateway programme will continue to deliver 40m of public and private sector investment in Hull's neighbourhoods and we will be seeking alternative funding for some of the schemes put on hold. This will help ensure that the momentum of positive change is maintained during this difficult period."

Pauline Davis, the strategic director for housing investment and renewal, added: "Over the past few months we have fought hard to retain as much of the funding as possible."