‘Long wait keeping our estate in limbo’
RESIDENTS ANGRY AT DELAYS AND LACK OF INFORMATION
RESIDENTS of a “forgotten” Nottinghamshire estate say they are “living in limbo” while plans to regenerate the area await approval.
Joint proposals for the Newark estate were submitted last month by Newark and Sherwood District Council and development partner Lovell Partnerships Ltd.
If these are approved, neighbours could see work start on 289 new homes in spring next year, providing a mix of affordable, split-ownership and market-sale properties.
The plans for the regeneration scheme also propose a new sports pavilion and an upgraded playing pitch.
Plans will be carried out by Lovell Partnerships through Compendium Living, its joint venture partnership.
The plans also include a new access road to the estate from Lincoln Road.
However, residents are frustrated about how long the regeneration project has been taking.
They have already waited years and – even if planning permission is granted – they will still have to wait several months before work can begin.
Paul Cornish, 65, has lived on Yorke Drive for five years. He said: “It has taken long enough. “We get letters saying this is going to happen and this is going to happen but it doesn’t. We will wait and see and if it goes ahead it goes ahead, and if it doesn’t it doesn’t.”
However, despite the delays, Paul thinks the new homes and sports pavilion were “a good idea”, adding: “Yeah – it would be good.”
Mum Geraldine Jenkins, 32, has lived on Yorke Drive for almost 11 years. She said: “It’s just taking way too long and we are not getting as much information as we deserve.
“We have been living in limbo, like do we decorate or what do we do? They are really unhelpful. They just say the same stuff all the time.”
Due to the wait, Geraldine has not been able to put in an application to buy her house, and says she “could be four years into paying it off” by now. She added: “I don’t really want to move anyway.”
Another resident who did not wish to be named said he was not happy about how long the regeneration was taking and about homes standing empty.
I’m appalled that it’s taken so long, and that houses have been left empty
Councillor Debbie Darby
He said: “They could be used for social housing or temporary accommodation.”
County councillor Debbie Darby, lives on Yorke Drive.
Councillor Darby said: “From a councillor point of view but also as a local resident of the area, I’m appalled that it’s taken so long, and that houses have been left empty when we are in a housing crisis.
“Some of these won’t be knocked down for years. It’s an invite for antisocial behaviour.” Councillor Darby explained that the empty properties has led to a spike in such behaviour and there had also been issues with fly-tipping and littering, so she was also concerned about wildlife.
Councillor Darby also has concerns that the regeneration will lead to it “being labelled ‘old Yorke Drive’ and ‘new Yorke Drive’ which could lead to divisions in the community.
Due to the housing crisis and lack of housing available, Debbie lives with eight family members in her “overcrowded” house, in which her front room has been turned into a bedroom.
She finds this especially “annoying” when there are so many “empty houses stood there” on the estate.