Hull launches emergency urban renewal plan

The centre and west of the city will be the first to change, followed by the east and the Orchard Park estate in the north. Action teams of experts in housing, education, environment, health, transport and leisure will work with residents to improve neighbourhoods and housing, cut crime and help businesses. The council says this will "dovetail" with Hull's housing market renewal pathfinder and act as a focus for funding.

Urban regeneration company Hull Citybuild will spearhead the work in the central and west area. In the east, the work will tie in with the Preston Road New Deal for Communities project already under way.

The plan was revealed in an internal report prompted by the Audit Commission's July inspection into Hull's corporate governance, which deemed the running of the housing service to be particularly poor.

The city is suffering a major fall in population and thousands of homes stand empty, so the council needs to make changes quickly. It remains under threat of a Whitehall takeover if it fails to make progress. Council chief executive Jim Brooks said: "We will move things forward rapidly. We need more people on the ground, working alongside and consulting residents and businesses. This is what this initiative delivers."

Hull United Residents and Tenants Federation is working with consultants to draw up plans for demolition and improvements in all the council's housing areas.

The plan will be submitted to the council within weeks.