A selection of frequently asked questions about the Manchester Salford Pathfinder (MSP) can be found below.
1. What is a Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder?
Nine Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders were set up by the Government in 2003 to find innovative solutions to the problems of low demand and housing market collapse in towns and cities across the north of England and Midlands.
The nine Pathfinders have been operational since 2003 in Birmingham and Sandwell, East Lancashire, Hull, Manchester Salford, Merseyside, Newcastle and Gateshead, North Staffordshire, Oldham and Rochdale, and South Yorkshire.
The Pathfinders are focused on some of the most disadvantaged communities in the country, working in neighbourhoods characterised by exceptionally high levels of multiple deprivation, often associated with problems of high levels of worklessness and low incomes.
The Pathfinders’ vision is to ensure communities and neighbourhoods are transformed so that they are capable of meeting the needs of local people, attracting new residents, combating disadvantage and exclusion, securing community cohesion and creating opportunity.
All of the Pathfinders face ongoing challenges, including how to address unbalanced housing tenure, poor housing conditions and a continuing gap between local and national house values. In many neighbourhoods, both social and privately owned housing is of very poor quality, and new housing development of any kind has been limited.
The solutions adopted in response by the Pathfinders are tailored to local circumstances and have been developed after widespread community consultation.
2. Why was Manchester Salford chosen as a Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder?
The Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder areas were identified by the Government following research by the University of Birmingham (CURS), which identified towns and cities worse affected by problems of low housing demand and neighbourhood abandonment.
3. How much money has MSP been given?
MSP was awarded £115million from the former Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for 2003–06. In July 2006, MSP was awarded a further £106million from the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) for 2006–08. In February 2008, MSP was provisionally awarded a further £140million by CLG for 2008-11.
4. What area does MSP cover?
The Manchester Salford Pathfinder area surrounds the core of the Manchester City region. It is populated by 240,000 residents living in 116,428 households.
The area includes all or parts of the following council wards:
Manchester : Ancoats & Clayton, Ardwick, Bradford, Charlestown, Cheetham, Chorlton Park, Crumpsall, Didsbury West, Fallowfield, Gorton North, Gorton South, Harpurhey, Levenshulme, Longsight, Miles Platting & Newton Heath, Moss Side, Moston, Old Moat, Rusholme, Whalley Range and Withington.
Salford: Broughton, Claremont , Irwell Riverside, Kersal, Langworthy, Ordsall and Weaste & Seedley.
5. How does MSP decide where work is carried out?
A Research, Foresight and Intelligence (RFI) programme developed by MSP provides extensive information about the housing market and neighbourhood conditions in the Manchester Salford Pathfinder area. The RFI programme provides the evidence base for Manchester and Salford City Councils’ investment proposals.
The Councils have ultimate responsibility for deciding how investment is prioritised within neighbourhoods following close consultation with partner agencies and through developing area-based proposals in consultation with local communities.
6. What has MSP achieved to date?
Since the start of the HMR programme in 2003, MSP has delivered (to end March 2009):
- 12,214 refurbished homes
- 13,317 new homes built within the Manchester Salford Pathfinder area
- The demolition of 2,687 obsolescent homes
- 49.2 hectares of land made available for new housing development.
