Minister to seeprogress ofhomes scheme

HOUSING Minister Ian Austin will see work start on the latest phase of a massive urban regeneration project in Hull today.

Mr Austin will check the progress of work on 67 new homes in Woodcock Street and meet apprentices working on a multi-million pound scheme to improve thousands of existing properties.

The second phase is getting under way following a 2.1m grant from the Government’s Kickstart fund.

The 12m development, which is being delivered by Keepmoat Homes and Places for People, comprises 106 new properties – the first new homes to be built in the area in more than 20 years.

The Minister will also see how work is progressing on an ambitious 25m improvement programme to the front of 2,000 Victorian and Edwardian homes in the city being led by regeneration agency Gateway.

Gateway chairman Stuart Whyte said: “I am delighted to welcome Ian Austin to Hull to mark the start of work on a further 67 new homes.

“The support of the Homes and Communities Agency is vital to the Gateway programme and the allocation of 2.1m from the Kickstart fund is excellent news which will allow us to drive forward the regeneration in this difficult time.”

All the new homes in St Andrew’s Square, Woodcock Street, benefit from a range of environmentally friendly features designed to cut fuel bills and reduce pollution.