Renew ‘very disappointed’ as plan to set up UDC is rejected

The ODPM has dealt a blow to Renew, the £2.3bn housing market renewal pathfinder for North Staffordshire, by turning down its bid to set up an urban development corporation.

Renew said it was “very disappointed” with the ODPM’s ruling last month on the planned UDC, which would have had planning and compulsory purchase powers as well as the right to hold funds.

Renew is aiming to clear 14,500 properties, refurbish 36,000 and build 12,500 new homes.

Renew wanted to set up a UDC because, according to a source close to the pathfinder, “the scale of regeneration needed in North Staffordshire was so great that a delivery vehicle with greater powers was needed”.

The source added that the UDC would have created “a stronger organisation with expertise in a number of areas” that could have tackled problems with housing that is dispersed over a wide area in the region.

We will look at establishing a more appropriate way to deliver positive change for communities

Lord Rooker, minister for regeneration

Lord Jeff Rooker, the minister for regeneration, said the rejection of the UDC would not affect Renew’s strategy for the region. “I am confident that the decision not to approve proposals for the UDC will not hold back the pathfinder in its delivery of a healthy, buoyant housing market and better quality housing for people in North Staffordshire,” Rooker said. “We will be working with partners in North Staffordshire to explore the possibility of establishing a more appropriate way to deliver positive change for communities.”

But Renew director Hardial Bhogal said he was “very disappointed” with the ODPM’s decision. He added that the matter had now ended and Renew would not be conducting a “lengthy post mortem”.

“We are working with our local authority and regional partners to look rapidly at how we can address delivery issues that would have been dealt with by the UDC, such as additional capacity and an appropriate planning environment,” he said.

Renew is planning to raise £2.3bn in funding over 18 years, consisting of £860m from the housing market renewal fund, £568m from other public sector sources and £879m from the private sector.