Orchard Park private finance initiative (PFI)
On Monday 22 November we received a letter from the Homes & Communities Agency informing us that they could no longer support the proposals for transforming parts of the Danes and Thorpes areas of Orchard Park using the Private Finance Initiative (PFI).
This means that plans drawn up in close consultation with local residents, to demolish and rebuild hundreds of houses in the area will not go ahead.
We are looking at whether private sector funding can be brought in to deliver the plans instead. We are working with the Homes and Communities Agency and other partners to explore this option and investigate its feasibility. We let you know as soon as we have further information.
Multi-storey flats
The announcement on the housing PFI scheme does not affect the demolition of the seven blocks of flats. The proposal to demolish the flats was considered by council committees in October and agreed by Cabinet on Monday 25 October. Residents of the flats have been informed of this decision and given a timetable for the relocation as follows -
| Flat |
Relocation date |
| Homethorpe: |
January 2011 - October 2011 |
| Milldane: |
May 2011 - April 2012 |
| Kinthorpe: |
September 2011 - August 2014 |
| Laxthorpe: |
September 2011 - August 2014 |
| Gorthorpe: |
October 2011 - April 2012 |
| Ashthorpe: |
January 2012 - December 2012 |
| Highcourt: |
January 2013 - December 2013 |
The Orchard Park Regeneration Team will be contacting all residents of the flats at the appropriate time, to discuss their housing options and provide individual advice and support.
Orchard Park Extra Care scheme
The announcement on the housing PFI does not affect the proposed Extra Care scheme. An Outline Business Case for the Extra Care scheme has been submitted and a government announcement is expected in January 2011.
