The area of Derby, centred on Hartington Street, from the Arboretum northwards to Sacheverel Street, is full of history. In years gone by, these were the grand residences of the gentry and the Arboretum itself was the first public park in the country.
After the Second World War, these large houses were too big and costly for families to run. They were increasingly let as bed-sits and later, in some cases, converted to self-contained flats. In more recent times, there has been a decline in the area accompanied by ever-increasing instances of crime, anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol abuse and prostitution. The area also has problems associated with poor housing repair, the quality of private rented housing management standards, the environment and traffic.
The Hartington Street area met all the required conditions for declaring a Renewal Area. In the area:
- there are approximately 875 homes
- two-thirds of homes were privately owned or rented
- almost half of all households were in receipt of benefits
- more than four out of ten properties were in need of some repair
The declaration of a Renewal Area helps tackle some of the problems identified in the area as:
- the Council is given additional powers to issue Compulsory Purchase Orders and to carry out work on land not owned by it
- there are fewer restrictions on giving grant aid for home improvements
- it allows for a co-ordinated strategy within the area
- it shows a commitment by the Council and others to tackle the problems of the area within a given timescale.
The Council's Cabinet officially declared the Hartington Street Renewal Area on 11 June 2002. This followed a nine-month long study and extensive consultation. The residents overwhelmingly supported the published strategy and contributed suggestions.
The six main objectives for the area are to:
improve the safety and security of residents
tackle anti-social behaviour
improve the image of the area
improve housing conditions
improve environmental conditions
attract private investment to help fund improvements
The strategy for the area was published in February 2002 and included plans for:
Getting landlords to take care of properties
One landlord has been ordered to pay a fine of over £4,000 after the Council took him to court for failing to manage, repair and meet fire safety standards in his property - a ‘house in multiple occupation' – commonly called an HMO.
Thirty-six notices have been served to landlords ordering them to deal with poor housing conditions. For one property where essential repairs were needed, the Council has completed the work and then charged the owner. We have an HMO Registration Scheme, where registered HMOs are certified as meeting minimum standards. Eleven HMOs have been brought up to standard by landlords and are now registered with our scheme. We have an inspection programme for all Arboretum Square properties, and landlords are currently carrying out work to a number of properties.
Bringing empty properties back into use
We have started to take compulsory purchase action on eight, long-term empty properties that have been causing problems. We will shortly be asking the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to approve this compulsory purchase action. Working with owners, and in the absence of one owner, we have made three Arboretum Square properties secure against unauthorised access to solve anti-social behaviour issues.
Melbourne Street repair schemes
Forty-three houses in Melbourne Street have been renovated through two Group Repair Schemes. The schemes have provided new roofs, double glazing, rainwater pipes and other external repairs. They have improved energy efficiency, security and the appearance of the street. View renovation photographs of Melbourne Street.
Helping you to make repairs
We have helped several elderly homeowners with essential repairs to help them to stay in their own homes. Remember, you can get advice on repairs from our Home Maintenance Guide, which is available in print from the Pear Tree Home Improvement Centre — telephone 01332 718800 or online at: Home Maintenance Guide.
Helping people to stop...
The Drug and Alcohol Action Team, the Edge Project, Probation Service, NACRO, Restore and other agencies and charities have been working in the area to encourage and support people who want to beat addiction or turn away from prostitution.
- Restore is a Christian-based charity with an outreach service that's aimed at helping sex workers.
- The Women's Work Project is a new scheme, funded by the Single Regeneration Budget - a government programme that provides money to deal with social deprivation, to offer a positive street outreach service to help and support women sex workers and especially those with drug-dependency problems. On Thursday afternoons, it has a drop-in centre at The Chapel, 8a Charnwood Street.
New lighting in Hartington Street
After listening to owners and residents, new street lighting has been installed which is in keeping with the conservation area. The brighter environment helps to prevent crime and makes it easier for CCTV cameras to pick up activity. View Hartington Street photos.
More CCTV coverage
Closed circuit TV cameras now cover the whole of the renewal area. A total of 63 new cameras have been installed in the area between Normanton Road and the Railway Station.
Tackling anti-social behaviour
An extra uniformed patrol constable now operates in this and surrounding areas. We've also extended the city centre alcohol-free zone to the whole renewal area.
Our Derby Homes' Neighbourhood Warden Scheme started in Normanton in August 2002. The Normanton neighbourhood wardens have been patrolling the area and watching anti-social behaviour hotspots. By March 2005, they had:
- safely removed 500 used syringes
- reported 80 abandoned vehicles, 22 cases of damage to property and 63 incidents of rubbish dumping
- responded to 194 calls from the public
- passed on 118 reports of anti social behaviour to other agencies
- requested the attendance of the police 12 times, and
- patrolled Hartington Street approximately 668 times.
Making it harder for burglars
With our anti-burglar scheme, we've fitted seven properties with burglar alarms, and a further 53 have had ‘target hardening' - better window and door locks - at a total cost of £3,800. We've also spent £22,000 on security in Melbourne Street. Since November 2002, there's been a downward trend in crimes reported in the area. There are no further funds available for the project in the Hartington Street Renewal Area.
Facelift for conservation areas
In late October 2004, we started a 'facelift' scheme to improve the appearance of Hartington Street. Originally, we planned for only stone cleaning, painting and new railings. However, more funding from the European Union's Urban Fund has allowed us to carry out more improvements. For example, when renewing slate roofs, we're able to use new slates from the same quarry as the original slates. We're also asking owners of houses in a small block on Osmaston Road about a 'facelift' scheme to their properties.
Landscaping, planting and pruning
Most of the lime trees in Hartington Street were ‘pollarded' in 2002. This means the crown of the trees have been taken out to allow new branches to grow. Pollarding is a three-year rolling programme, so is due again this year.
There have been dramatic improvements to the Arboretum with the progress of the Arboretum Restoration Project that is funded by lottery-bid money. The Derby Arboretum website has photos of the work, latest news, and historical information and images. Go to the Derby Arboretum web pages for photos of the work, latest news and historical information and images.
Traffic management enhancement schemes
No major changes to traffic management can be planned until the inner ring road is complete when the effects on local traffic can be seen. Resident only parking schemes are operating in Hartington Street and Melbourne Street.Improving Council Housing
Derby Homes have fitted new doors and windows and have upgraded heating systems to many of their flats in the area. They have also fitted bulkhead lights to archways, new fences between Alder Walk and the Arboretum and numerous video door entry systems to older tenants' flats.
During 2005, Derby Homes will be fitting a lockable barrier to the Alder Walk residents' car park, and they are making the drying areas in Alder Walk secure and for residents only. Grounds have had a general overhaul with overgrown bushes either being cut back or removed and grassed over.
Grove House
Demolition of the covered walkway between Grove House and Leonard Walk will happen soon and remove this haven for anti-social behaviour. A planning application to demolish Grove House and redevelop the site is likely to be submitted to the Council this summer. You can look at planning applications on the internet.
Improving Hartington Street rear access road
The north side service road has been cleared and we're considering paving options. The option to provide the entrances with lockable gates was rejected by owners.
Saturday "Hit Squad" cleaning team
As planned, there's been a one-year scheme to deal with fly tipping, discarded needles, graffiti and general cleaning. Since then the Neighbourhood Wardens have removed syringes and reported dumped cars and rubbish.
Hartington Street 2001 photo gallery
Hartington Street photo gallery 2003/04
Archive photos - courtesy of Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Downloads
For more advice and information
write to us at:
Pear Tree Home Improvement Centre
182 Pear Tree Road,
Derby
DE23 8NQ
phone us on 01332 718800
or use the form below to contact us