MP welcomes Labour investment in Orchard Park housing

Diana Johnson MP has welcomed today's announcement of £156 million in Labour Government investment for housing regeneration in Hull North's Orchard Park Estate.

The Hull North MP now demanded that the scheme be subject to full and genuine local consultation with Orchard Park residents and their elected local councillors.

Diana Johnson met Orchard Park residents and councillors earlier this year to hear local concerns about their lack of say over the scheme's proposals. The MP then passed on these concerns in a meeting with the Housing Minister at Westminster. A Housing Minister is soon due to visit Hull North, at Diana Johnson's request, to discuss the Orchard Park housing scheme.

Diana Johnson MP said: "I am delighted that the Labour Government has committed a massive £156 million for housing regeneration in Orchard Park, on top of the Labour Government investment for health and other services in the area.

"However, with work not starting until at least 2013 this funding is only safe while we have a Labour Government - especially given the spending cuts planned by the Tories and Lib Dems nationally.

"There must now be genuine consultation with Orchard Park people and their elected councillors to ensure that the scheme meets their needs and aspirations for choice in how their housing is designed and managed.

"We must ensure that the errors of the 1960s are not repeated and that Orchard Park people have a real say in the design of the new housing, which homes will be demolished, the type of new homes built and the balance between housing for sale and affordable rented housing.

"We must also ensure that while the scheme is developed existing homes are not left empty needlessly, especially when there are so many local people waiting for homes. Decisions on all these issues must not be imposed from Guildhall. So far consultation has been severely lacking in Orchard Park."

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