Housing chief sees the changing face of Pendleton
Friday 22 January 2016
Housing chief David Orr got a first-hand look at how Pendleton’s skyline is changing forever following a £16million makeover of three tower blocks.
The National Housing Federation Chief Executive was joined by Salford and Eccles MP Rebecca Long-Bailey and other guests to see the dramatic makeover of Spruce Court, Whitebeam Court and Hornbeam Court to turn them into stylish, modern apartment complexes with a spectacular view over the city.
The VIPs were given a guided tour of the refurbishment project, and visited the Digital heart of the region at University of Salford’s Media City campus where they were given a chance to relive the past thanks to one of the 28 research projects being demonstrated, the University’s Occulus Rift augmented reality research project, a piece of wearable technology that allows the wearer to experience what life was like in the past and is going to be like in the future in a virtual environment.
Pendleton Together, a housing PFI scheme and partnership between Salford City Council, Together Housing Group and Keepmoat, has given Spruce Court, Whitebeam Court and Hornbeam Court, a dramatic makeover to create stylish, modern, urban apartment complexes with spectacular view of Manchester.
The housing refurbishment project is being supported with academic excellence and student creativity from the University of Salford, some 28 research projects are in design or being delivered with over 30 academics involved across eight schools being led by Prof Phil Brown Professor of Social Change at the University.
Each of the 266 apartments have been refurbished with a new kitchen and bathroom, new double-glazed windows and doors highly efficient heat pump heating\ventilation system, and decorated throughout.
New lifts, communal spaces and recycling facilities have also been added and the local areas have been extensively landscaped.
And gone is the drab exterior to be replaced by distinct thermal-insulated cladding, which makes the blocks, warm and energy efficient.
It’s all part of the £650million project which is revolutionising life and creating new opportunities in Pendleton.
David Orr, National Housing Federation Chief Executive, said: “This project is a fantastic example of how successfully we can meet the needs of local communities when we work together.
“I am impressed by the high quality of the homes, and the community-wide benefits the regeneration will have.
“Delivering more projects like this will be important if we are to ensure that everyone has a modern, energy efficient home to live in, and housing associations are ideally placed to help councils and private sector partners work together to deliver improvements like these. I hope that this project inspires similar initiatives across the country.”
Spruce Court resident Garry Cooper said: “We are incredibly proud of Spruce, it looks like a completely new and modern apartment block.
“We now have modern homes that are comfortable, warm and economical to heat. As well as improving the homes we live in the regeneration is having a positive impact on the community as well. I’m really proud to call Pendleton my home.”
Cllr Paul Dennett, Strategic Assistant Mayor, said: “When travelling along the A6 into or out of Manchester you can’t help but notice the stunning transformation of these three tower blocks. They are a truly magnificent addition to Salford’s skyline. They have gone from an eyesore to iconic landmark.
“The impact of the £650million being invested in Pendleton is really beginning to show – new homes are being built for sale, existing properties are being refurbished, new parks are springing up and the wider community is benefiting.”
Mike Taylor, Head of Industrial Partnerships at the University, added: “The University is absolutely focused on teaching and research. Developing our research excellence, improving our students experience and their employability are our top priorities.
“By being more enterprising in our teaching and research through industrial engagement we can deliver against these priorities whilst also contributing significantly to the economy and society locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
“The university's priorities are very much aligned with Pendleton Together’s strategic aims of improving the lives of the people their environment within Pendleton over the next 25 years and beyond.
“Our contribution towards this strategic aim is to support them along the way with well researched evidenced based decision making and to give them access to the creative minds of the future – our students.”
Work started in early 2014 and was completed in January 2016. The complex improvement programme, which will see a further six blocks of flats refurbished over the coming months, has taken place while the residents continued to live in their apartments.
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