laceFirst, the developer behind the £15.5m regeneration of Woodnook, Accrington has unveiled plans for two new public spaces as part of the ongoing transformation of the area.
Planning applications have been submitted for a new public square off Nuttall Street and a pocket park off Booth Street.
Woodnook Square, a formal hard landscaped space flanked by new trees, will be built on the cleared Priestly Nook site off Nuttall Street. The plans create a flexible space that can be used for a range of community events and will be managed by PlaceFirst. The proposed square will also create an attractive ‘front door’ to Woodnook Community Centre, a building previously hidden behind a [demolished] block of flats. Trinity Community Church, who run the community centre, are currently refurbishing the building which will offer a wider programme of events and rooms that can be used by local groups and societies.
On Booth Street, where a row of dilapidated terraced houses once stood, PlaceFirst are proposing a small park overlooked by new homes. The park will feature a young children’s play area, and a private residents garden including BBQ facilities and opportunities for local residents to ‘grow their own’ plants and vegetables. The park will be managed by PlaceFirst.
PlaceFirst expect to start groundworks on both sites imminently to prepare them ahead of obtaining the necessary planning approval. In addition to the new public spaces, PlaceFirst will also deliver a range of street improvements across the Phase 1 area including new street trees, improved lighting and signage, and reconfigured on-street parking.
The regeneration of Woodnook is being delivered through a joint venture between PlaceFirst and Together Housing Group, in partnership with Hynburn Borough Council. The new homes in Woodnook are being built for market rent, delivering high quality homes and a professional landlord service to the growing number of households who now live in private rented sector.
PlaceFirst have completed and let 34 of the 64 homes in Phase 1 and will be releasing a mix of 2, 3, & 4-bedroom family homes across Royds Street and Booth Street over July and August.
Phase 2 comprises the comprehensive refurbishment of 60 empty homes ‘pepper-potted’ across the wider Woodnook area. PlaceFirst completed the first ten homes in December 2013 and are currently preparing plans for the next 20 homes which they anticipate starting work on this Summer.
David Smith-Milne, Managing Director of PlaceFirst said, “The proposed new public spaces in Woodnook will compliment the new homes we are building and provide high quality, publicly accessible spaces that will benefit the wider Woodnook community.
“In a neighbourhood of ‘back of footpath’ terraced housing, we always felt it was important to provide some quality public space that can widen the appeal of Woodnook beyond housing alone; as build-to-rent developers we place significant importance on quality public realm as these are the spaces where people meet and communities are formed”.
Clare Cleary, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Housing said, “We are delighted with the transformation being delivered by PlaceFirst in Woodnook. The new spaces will introduce some much needed open space into the Woodnook neighbourhood and at the same complement the ongoing works to refurbish many long-term empty homes”.