Council backs plans for £24m revamp of Blacon’s rundown Parade

Feb 21 2010 by David Norbury, Chester Chronicle

A MASSIVE £24m redevelopment of Blacon's run down Parade neighbourhood has backing from Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The decision to support the scheme, which will also involve Chester and District Housing Trust and NHS Western Cheshire, came at a meeting of the council's powerful Tory controlled Executive.

The move enables more detailed work to be carried out to finalise the project, which could see an integrated health and community facility providing primary care, community and social care and new services including nursing, general practice, therapy, mental health and community services.

There would be at least 54 new homes, including affordable and enhancements to public space designed to improve safety, security and play space along with "flagship" green energy saving measures.

Council Leader, Cllr Mike Jones (Con, Broxton) says:"This is a very important development in Blacon.

"It is a commitment by the new council to work with partners to deliver a major regeneration project.

"This will be a very important part of how we are developing a strategy for communities which are suffering deprivation".

He adds:" With our partners we are working hard to make these ambitious plans a reality.

"We believe such a transformation of The Parade will be good for the economy of Blacon as well as a welcome boost for local residents.

"The project will be fit for the 21st century and we await a planning application to come before this council in the next 12 months.

"By then funding will be finalised and there will be artist impressions of what the new Parade will look like once building work is complete."

Blacon Cllr Reggie Jones (Lab) describes The Parade as "a landmark area in Blacon" and believes the project is "one not to be missed."

He feels the redevelopment would "reinforce civic pride" in the centre of the community and says: "We need to ensure that as it progresses it is right for Blacon."

Environment portfolio holder Cllr Neil Ritchie (Con, Broxton) commented:"This will be an asset to Blacon.

"Hopefully this scheme will address the issue of deprivation".

He also believed :"It is really important we get it right."

The council points out that Blacon, home to 16,000 people, is among the most deprived wards in the borough and in the top 10% nationally.

The Parade neighbourhood includes shops with flats and maisonettes above, houses, a social club and community facilities including a centre, a GP surgery and the Delta Centre youth club.

The area is "run down and unattractive in appearance" according to the council.

It provides poor quality shops and housing while the community facilities "are no longer fit for purpose."

A report explains the redevelopment of The Parade was one of the key features which emerged from a master plan for the regeneration of Blacon after the estate became a neighbourhood management pathfinder in 2002.

Those involved included the former Chester City Council, Chester and District Housing Trust, residents, the Blacon Community Trust, Chester Civic Trust, West Cheshire primary care trust and English Partnerships.

A masterplan for The Parade was funded by English Partnerships which also agreed in principle to provide a significant level of grant to fund a gap in the finance.

But in March last year, a new organisation, the Homes and Communities Agency, which succeeded English Partnerships, decided it was unable to provide any cash backing due to other commitments and the downturn in housing market.

The new Cheshire West and Chester Council started discussions with the housing and primary care trusts when it was formed the following month.

The council believes that "as well as proposals for the physical regeneration of The Parade, this redevelopment offers the potential to pilot a new way of working with deprived communities, through an innovative neighbourhood management approach and community ownership of assets."

The scheme to create a vibrant new area could help deal with the disadvantage experienced by many residents, believes the council.

In the future, the council believes the scheme could ensure more localised and community engagement in the ownership and management of local assets and community services.

This could become a model of best practice for other schemes in the borough and nationally.

Councillors were asked to agree to reaffirm the council's commitment to the redevelopment of The Parade and to authorise more detailed development work including a planning application.

The executive will have a further report in the future with detailed proposals and the full financial implications.

The report reveals there is at present a funding gap of £2.5m and further work will be carried out on how best to deal with the shortfall.

Councillors heard that if the redevelopment of The Parade does not take place, the council and other organisations would have to manage the decline of the area.

This would have both financial and social costs.