Tenants mark half a century of living on the same road by launching estate transformation

Sheffield Homes tenants Ike and Margaret Hill couldn’t believe their luck when they became two of the first tenants to move onto the brand new Lowedges estate half a century ago.

 

Their modern two-bedroom maisonette was a far cry from the two rooms they had been living in for the first seven years of their married life and they liked it so much they have lived on the same road – Beckett Crescent - ever since.

 

Now, as Chairman of Greenhill Bradway Community Association and member of the Area Investment Working Group, Mr Hill, 78, has officially unveiled the Lowedges show house, which will show hundreds of tenants how their homes will be transformed through Sheffield’s near £700m Decent Homes programme.

 

“Nothing has ever really been done to the homes round here since they were built and I think our bathroom and kitchen are the original ones,” said Mr Hill who used to work in a rolling mill in Attercliffe.

 

“When we moved here there were no phone boxes, no school, buses did not come up here and there was not even a pub at first.

 

“But it was sought after to live here at the time and although it’s not as good as it used to be, hopefully all this work will really improve things.

 

“Everyone’s really looking forward to getting this work done. We’ve lived in different homes to accommodate our family over the years but always on Beckett Crescent and we never want to leave.”

 

A small army of workers is moving onto the estate and by the end of the first year of work over 1,300 properties will have been brought up to the Decent Homes standard.

 

By 2010 all council-owned properties in the Lowedges, Jordanthorpe, Greenhill, Little Norton, Batemoor, Fraser, Bradway and Meadowhead area will have had their homes upgraded.

 

Hundreds of tenants will be invited to visit the show house at 162 Gervase Avenue, Lowedges – a two-bedroom maisonette built in1956 which has been brought up to Decent Homes standard.

 

Mark Beeley, Project Manager for Sheffield Homes, said: "The opening of the show house is a milestone in the delivery of the Decent Homes programme within this area.

 

“Not only will it enable tenants to better view the work that is programmed but it also acts as a fully furnished respite facility that families who require additional help whilst work is being carried out, can use".

 

Consultation on the work began with tenants as long ago as December to ensure they were involved as much as possible and well before work got underway.

 

Sheffield Homes’ contractor, Connaught Partnerships Ltd, will be carrying out the work in Lowedges and started on the first properties at the end of May.

 

Neil Smith, Operations Manager (Eastern) Connaught Partnerships Ltd, said: “We believe the completion and official opening of the show house sends out the right message to tenants living in the area and identifies a suitable base for building relationships with tenants, TARAs and other local community bodies.

 

“Connaught are extremely keen to forge strong links with the area and its residents and we've found that people really appreciate being able to view the kitchens, bathrooms and finishes on offer to tenants undergoing the Decent Homes refurbishment works.

 

“Connaught’s Customer Liaison Advisers have found surgeries being staged in such venues gives them an early opportunity to talk face-to-face with the tenants and explore ways to help minimise the disruption whilst such major improvements are being carried out for them.”