Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

PLANS to regenerate Grove Hill are moving forward.

Over the past few weeks, we have continued our push with planned demolitions, removing a number of empty boarded-up properties that had once blighted the estate and been a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

Residents living near Keithwood Close were overjoyed to see the remaining empty blocks demolished and cleared and 12 empty, badly vandalised one bedroom bungalows at Langton Close received the same treatment.

Empty properties were also recently targeted by vandals and arsonists, damaging properties and putting lives at risk. We have been rigorous in finding the people responsible and bringing about a number of successful prosecutions.

Susie Thompson, Director of Housing for Erimus, said: “We take attacks on our empty properties very seriously and we hope this serves as a warning to people about the action that can - and will - be taken against them.

“We will also take tenancy enforcement action against any tenant attacking a property. We want people to realise how serious this is and we would urge anyone who witnesses this kind of behaviour to report it to us.”

Further planned demolitions on other parts of Grove are to continue, marking the beginning of Erimus Housing’s huge regeneration scheme.

The huge £9m investment and refurbishment programme on Grove Hill is also continuing. By the end of the year, 300 Erimus homes will have been modernised on the estate. The programme will continue over until around 800 Erimus homes on the estate have been upgraded, providing a massive boost for our tenants and helping invigorate the estate