The Guildhall in Hull.

Hull City Council consults residents on future housing provision

Hull City Council has consulted residents about the future of their homes at both Boothferry Flats in west Hull and Henson Villas, off Beverley Road, and sought the views of the wider community.

Feedback will be considered by the council’s Scrutiny Committee tomorrow, Friday 17 December, prior to being discussed by Cabinet on Monday 20 December. The results show that the majority of residents who responded to the consultation were in favour of demolishing the Boothferry high-rise blocks, Torpoint Drive, Woolwich Drive and Millpoint Drive, and replacing them with brand new homes. With regard to Henson Villas, where the options for consultation were do nothing, refurbish, or demolish the three blocks of low rise flats and replace them with new homes, further one-to-one consultation with residents will take place to understand their views better.

The next steps for the Boothferry flats will be to engage residents with regard to their housing needs and support them throughout the process of relocating.

Councillor John Black, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness said: “Our priority will be for our specialist Housing Renewal Teams to support residents affected by the demolition and relocation.

“The decision to extend consultation for Henson Villas will give us more time to understand residents’ views on the proposals.  If demolition goes ahead at both locations, we have said that there will be no loss of homes available and will replace at least the same number as those demolished with social housing.”

The council will also shortly start working with the local community and residents groups to develop a detailed masterplan for the site, with at least as many new council homes rebuilt, as the 143 flats that will be demolished, which will be built to a modern specification including a high energy efficiency standard, in keeping with the council’s drive to reduce the city’s carbon emissions.

It is also envisaged that the layout of the site will retain approximately 30 percent of its green space, thereby helping to make it a more attractive location to live and more sustainable. The council is also sympathetic to residents’ request for community facilities to be part of any remodelled estate.