Memorial award celebrates regeneration excellence

All entrants of the Memorial award

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The first winner of the Dave Davison Award will be announced at a presentation at Rochdale Town Hall this week.

Three projects have been shortlisted for the award:

• Middleton Bus Station and the extension to Middleton Arndale.
• 'Gate It' - alleygating schemes across the Borough. 
• Heywood pilot scheme to improve derelict or untidy private buildings.

The winner will receive the award in the Mayor's Parlour, Rochdale Town Hall at 12 noon on Wednesday 18 October 2006.

The award celebrates best practice in planning or regeneration being carried out across Rochdale Borough. It celebrates the contribution to the Borough of Dave Davison, who died in 2004, only a couple of weeks after his retirement.

Dave Davison retired following 37 years of public sector service. He had worked for Manchester City Council, and for 31 years in the Planning Department at Rochdale Council, rising to the position of Assistant Director in the former Environment Department. For the two years before his retirement, Dave was Operations Director for Rochdale Development Agency.

Lead Member for Regeneration, Councillor Mohammed Sharif said: "Each of the nominations is an excellent example of the positive regeneration work taking place across the borough. They show that improvements are not only in visible, high profile schemes but also in simple measures that make a great difference to individuals' quality of life."

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Summaries of the nominated schemes:

Middleton Bus Station/Shopping Centre

These two inter-dependent developments have made an important contribution to the redevelopment and regeneration of Middleton Town Centre. 

The developments received very positive feedback at the Middleton Spatial Masterplan public exhibition held in January 2006.

The improved facilities have also helped to kick start other regeneration initiatives and the development of the Middleton Spatial Masterplan.  These have been early wins which have given residents confidence in other regeneration initiatives which will soon start on site as well as the longer term development of Middleton Town Centre.

'Gate It' alleygating

In several neighbourhoods across the Borough, Rochdale Council has provided gating across any alleyways where neighbours were suffering anti-social behaviour. This sought to give them a sense of ownership and pride in their local community.

Fitting lockable gates over alleyways has proved an effective and popular solution. In addition to crime prevention benefits, gated space has been used by residents and communities, creating a sense of ownership and belonging. The gates have enhanced amenity within the areas, improving areas' reputation and desirability. The Council's 'Gate It' scheme has been key in reducing these problems, with residents only too willing to thank the Council for its help in solving problems that have plagued them for years.

Heywood pilot scheme to improve derelict or untidy private buildings

This scheme has made use of planning legislation, Section 215, within the Heywood New Deal Area to reduce problems of derelict or untidy private properties or land.  This not only results in the New Deal Area being the first to benefit but provides good practice to share with the rest of the borough. 

The project sought to ensure that owners take responsibility for the appearance of their property, ensure it maintains a productive use for the good of the environment within the area and where necessary to undertake the necessary works in default.

In Heywood, over 80 sites or buildings have being cleared, improved or returned to active use. Local peoples' concerns about their environment are being listened to and the Council is now being recognised regionally and nationally as a leader in this form of action and is now acting the focal point for rolling act this action against dereliction in the environment.