Story by Kate Atkinson
Burngreave is to pilot a government scheme to create a ‘mixed community’, mixing rich and poor households, thereby increasing economic opportunity and improving the area as a place to raise children.
Research recently reviewed by the Rowntree Trust shows that concentrated poverty limits opportunity for people above and beyond their personal circumstances. Is becoming a ‘mixed community’ the answer for Burngreave?
The ‘mixed community’ initiative aims to build on the Masterplan and New Deal’s work on social regeneration and crime reduction, to create a sustainable community that will last when New Deal ends.
Attracting new people
David Shepherd, Council lead manager for Burngreave said:
“We need to attract new people to the area and retain them, whilst providing for those that already live here. We want to create a sustainable area, with new homes and access to jobs.”
The Spital Hill developments, the new supermarket and inner relief road are also parts of the effort. The Transport Plan is envisaged to increase access to the rest of the city for jobs. Worksites near the relief road are also expected to create jobs.
Four hundred new ‘high-quality design’ homes are being built on the sites of the Masterplan demolitions. 300 of these new houses will be for sale on the open market and designed to attract wealthy residents, while only 100 will be ‘affordable’ homes for sale or rent.
‘Problematic’ residents?
Some point out that Burngreave is already a mixed community and fear that this is simply a plan to remove residents seen as ‘problematic’, such as asylum seekers and low-income families and replace them with wealthy families.
At a February Area Panel meeting Mr Shepherd said: “The more people are channelled towards this area, the more difficult it is to regenerate.” He is asking for ‘freedoms and flexibilities’ from government which include restrictions on the number of asylum seekers rehoused here.
Other questions remain – Where will those losing their homes to demolition move to? Will asylum seekers and other vulnerable people find other areas of Sheffield as welcoming as Burngreave? Will the new well-off residents spend their money locally?