Housing regeneration efforts win regional award

The partnership won the title of Best Regeneration Initiative in Yorkshire and Humber in an awards scheme run by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Initiated by Gateway and managed and designed by NPS Humber, the 3.7m project has seen external facelifts carried out to the front of more than 300 homes in Plane Street, Sandringham Street and St George's Road.

The aim of the scheme was to restore the three streets by reinstating the original Victorian character of the properties.

Work included new fascias, gutters and rainwater pipes, reinstatement of bay windows, renewal of existing bay roof coverings, new windows and doors, new front boundary walls and railings, brickwork, and joinery repairs.

Pauline Davis, strategic director at Gateway, said: "I am delighted to see this scheme being recognised by the panel.

"It has had a real impact on the local area, and particularly the residents living there.

"Local people have started to further invest in their homes as result of the scheme and it has generated a real sense of pride."

The programme is part of Gateway's multi-million pound investment in the Newington and St Andrew's wards, which will see more than 2,000 new homes, improvements to more than 2,900 existing properties, demolition of 1,800 densely packed terraces, and a network of new and improved parks.

Plans are also being pursued to build a new secondary school in the area, to replace Endeavour High in the city centre.

Public art celebrating the achievements of Hull aviation heroine Amy Johnson will be included in the scheme.

New inner city allotments, restored historic features and revitalised shopping areas are also planned.

Phil Vozza, of NPS Humber, said: "I am delighted that this award has been won against stiff opposition from other major cities in the Yorkshire region.

"This recognises the highest standard of the work carried out by all of those involved in the scheme."

Last year, Gateway's Newington and St Andrew's area action plan, created in partnership with Hull Council, won a "planning process" award from The Royal Town Planning Institute.

The 400m plan is one of the largest regeneration schemes in Yorkshire and aims to improve an area of 9,000 homes suffering "severe deprivation".