North Staffordshire to mentor troubled Hull pathfinder

The troubled Hull & East Riding market renewal pathfinder, which was heavily criticised in an Audit Commission report last month, will be mentored by the North Staffordshire pathfinder, Renew.

It is understood the Hull pathfinder, called Gateway, will consult with Renew as it begins the regeneration of five areas in the city.

A source close to the pathfinder said Renew would mentor Gateway through a “partnering arrangement”.

The Audit Commission report, published on 22 March, cast doubt on the feasibility of Gateway’s initial three-year programme.

The commission – which released the report on the same day that the ODPM announced it would provide £16m of initial funding for Gateway – said the programme could have “little impact on the current oversupply of housing because of plans to build first and clear later” (HT 24 March, page 8).

Hull was the last of the nine housing market renewal pathfinders to draw funds from the £500m pot that was allocated in the Communities Plan in February 2003.

Meanwhile, Renew has formed a joint commissioning board that will make decisions on the provision of affordable housing in North Staffordshire.

Renew decided to establish the board, which was due to meet for the first time yesterday, after its plans to form an urban development corporation were turned down by the ODPM last year (HT 3 December, page 13).

The board will include representatives from Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands councils, as well as Advantage West Midlands, the Housing Corporation and English Partnerships.

Renew director Hardial Bhogal said the board would commission refurbishment and new-build work.