‘This will make Stepney more attractive’: Area gets £500,000 green funding boost for improvements
WELCOME INVESTMENT: Councillor Jack Haines, left, and John Scotney, chair of the Stepney accelerator partnership
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
The Stepney area of Hull is to receive major improvements after £500,000 of green funding was awarded to Hull City Council.
The work will be targeted to green space improvement works as part of the government’s High Street Accelerator Pilot Programme.
The funding came as a result of a successful green spaces proposal submission to Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
It was put forward following discussion within the community partnership which is spearheading the project.
The High Street Accelerator project on Beverley Road is being delivered by the council within a wider programme of Local Centres investment across the city.
The council’s plan to revive local highstreets will see an additional £6m of council funding invested into a series of community high streets in the heart of the city’s neighbourhoods.
This £500,000 green funding grant will contribute towards improving the visual appeal in the Stepney area, as well as installing hard landscaping, planters and community art.
Sculcoates Park has been earmarked as the main area for investment and detailed proposals will be subject to community consultation which began today.
John Scotney, chair of the Stepney accelerator partnership, said: “I would like to thank DLUHC for its generous award to our partnership.
“This will help to improve all green spaces within Stepney, particularly those most neglected, as well as the area in general.
“These improvements will not only raise the morale of current residents and businesses, but will make Stepney more attractive to potential new residents, customers and traders.”
The High Street Accelerator programme aims to attract footfall and new businesses to declining high streets, while also tackling shop vacancies.
The Stepney project launched on March 15 with ‘Action Week’, which saw the removal of graffiti, litter picks and skips rotated around the area to assist residents with removing unwanted items.
A total of 47 tonnes of waste, litter and unwanted household items were removed.
Councillor Jack Haines, portfolio holder for communities at the council, said: “As a council, we're committed to making Hull cleaner, looking after our green spaces and revitalising our local high streets – this scheme is helping us do just that.
“Already, we have seen 47 tonnes of waste removed and with this funding; more change for local residents is on the way.
“People told us that they’ve seen a significant difference in the area since Action Week which saw a huge community tidy-up. One resident mentioned how nice it was to be able to get out into their garden again with the waste gone.
“It’s stories such as these which are why we’re fighting to make Hull a cleaner place. People want us to get the basics right and this project and funding is doing exactly that.”
Stepney accelerator partnership is keen to understand the issue affecting the local community and has launched a survey enabling residents and business owners to have their say and shape the vision for the area.
Leaflets will be sent to residents in Stepney to invite them to get involved. Businesses and residents in the wider Beverley Road area are who use shops and services in Stepney are also invited to complete the survey online.
The survey is live now and can be completed here until Sunday, June 16. Anyone needing help to complete the questionnaire or who needs a copy in an alternative format or language can call 01482 300300 or email StepneyHighStreetAccelerator@hullcc.gov.uk.