Woodside for sale

“Why are we only being told this here?” was the question repeatedly asked at the Burngreave New Housing Project Group on 27th October 2005, as residents met to discuss proposed new developments around Woodside and Catherine Street.

Wavy-roof houses saved

The meeting opened with good news for the remaining residents of the wavy-roofed houses on Gray Street – confirmation they were not to be demolished after all. Unfortunately no-one had seen fit to inform the owners of these houses. Had they not attended what was supposed to be an invite-only meeting they would still be in the dark about the future of their homes.

Unclear future for Catherine Street

A number of Catherine Street residents attended, trying to find out exactly what was happening with their homes (see below for details), as they had not been informed either. Questions over levels of compensation and whether new homes would be available on a like-for-like basis were raised, but couldn’t be answered. Promises were made of follow up visits, but the attendees didn’t look at all happy with the process.

Woodside shocker

The biggest surprise came when the Council officer read out proposals for Woodside. After saying that the Council are currently completing the purchase of the land formerly occupied by the Fox and Duck pub, on Pye Bank Road, and of the shell of The Highway pub on Fox Street – gutted by fire on 11th September 2005 this year – the officer read out plans for the land to be sold off to a developer. At which point New Deal Partnership Board Chair Rose Ardron’s jaw virtually hit the floor. New Deal invested a million pounds to speed up demolition of Woodside on the basis that they would have an influence over the redevelopment, yet this was the first time anyone from New Deal had heard of this proposal. Even more surprising, meeting chair, Councillor Steve Jones, also expressed his surprise that this decision had seemingly taken place without his being aware of it, despite being a member of Cabinet! Quite where the plan had come from, no-one could explain.

The project group is part of the Council’s continuing ‘consultation’ over the Masterplan, and was supposed to engage local residents in decisions about the new housing. The discussions were to include housing type, the proportions of houses for sale’, ‘affordable’ sale, rent through Housing Association, possible inclusion of ecohousing and ‘lifetime’ housing, amongst other factors.

Both those attending the project group and New Deal seem to have had their role in the decision-making process underminded by the Council’s unilateral announcement of the plan to sell Woodside.

Many members of the group left the meeting as in the dark about what was expected of them, and what meaningful input they would actually have, as they were when they arrived.

by Richard Belbin

Catherine Street Masterplan proposals include:

Demolishing properties on Brotherton Street, Catherine Street, Cranworth Road and three businesses on Kilton Hill.

Part of Brotherton Street to become pedestrian access to the park.

Around 50 new houses to be built on Catherine Street, part of Catherine Street/Somerset Street open space, and the bottom of Richmond Street.

Housing is to be a mixture of private, rented and housing association, with 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms and high-energy efficiency standards.

Woodside Masterplan proposals include:

Around 200 terraced houses along Pitsmoor Road and Pye Bank Road.

Hill-top square and refurbishment of Pye Bank School.

Housing is to be a mixture of private, rented and housing association, with 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms and high-energy efficiency standards.