Fleetwood properties get free facelift
More than 50 properties in the Bold Street area of Fleetwood are set to receive a free facelift.
Improvements to the exterior of houses in an identified zone are being offered to owners, with the work being funded by Wyre Borough Council.
The overall aim is to create an enhanced street scene that will improve the image of this particular neighbourhood and so encourage stability and investment in the area. Another advantage will be an increase in property values, which in turn should lead to increased demand and reduce the number of potentially empty properties.
Part of Bold Street, North Church Street, Balmoral Terrace and Windsor Terrace have been included in what has become known as the Bold Street Housing Priority Area. They have been targeted due to a tight concentration of privately rented houses, the vast majority of which are houses in multiple occupation(HMOs), often in a poor condition.
Council officers have been liaising with landlords for some time to ensure minimum standards of living inside their properties. This has included offering advice and assistance alongside the use of enforcement where necessary.
While this invaluable work will continue, the council now wants to improve the outward appearance of the properties as well as addressing conditions on the inside. Available improvements will vary from terrace to terrace but may include boundary walls, rainwater guttering, roofs over bay windows and fascias. A local architect has been engaged to come up with appropriate designs incorporating wrought iron and complementary materials reflective of Fleetwood's former hey day.
Work itself will be carried out in phases during the next three years, the first phase starting on Monday 14 September to a terrace on North Church Street where home owners have been particularly supportive.
It is hoped the finished result in around three months time will act as a showcase to encourage neighbouring property owners to accept the council's invitation.
The Facelift Scheme is part of the wider North Fleetwood Neighbourhood Management initiative, a plan to improve the appearance, image, prospects and quality of life of Pharos and Mount wards.
Councillor Lynne Bowen, Living Healthily Portfolio Holder for Wyre Borough Council, said: "We know that this area has more problems than most in terms of accommodation, which is why we are targeting our efforts here.
"People have the right to expect certain standards of living conditions and the council continues to work hard with landlords to get this message across.
"While in many properties landlords will need to invest in improving conditions on the inside and in major repairs where necessary, the council wants to provide what support it can to improve the outside of their properties, not just for the residents who live there, but for the reputation of Fleetwood of as a whole.
"We have had some encouraging support from those who have been approached about the initiative and look forward to engaging with the remaining property owners."
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