Broxtowe Borough Council has won an award for its regeneration work in The Buildings area of Eastwood.
The award was presented by ARCH (the Association of Retained Council Housing) as a Best Practice Award 2008 at the annual conference held in Derby.
The council's Neighbourhood Pride initiative cleaned up The Buildings, improved the street scene an
d car parks and attracted funding.
Councillor Milan Radulovic MBE, ARCH's national chair, and cabinet portfolio holder for Housing Health and Leisure at Broxtowe Borough Council said: "I am delighted to see this award presented to Broxtowe for its enterprise and initiative through the Neighbourhood Pride regeneration project.
"The initiative is something that has made a positive contribution to the quality of peoples lives and has the support of all the member of the council.
"The award was well deserved and my thanks goes to all the team involved for their hard work on the project."
The Buildings are six residential streets close to the centre of Eastwood. Three of the streets retain former miners cottages and the birthplace of D H Lawrence. The site is within a conservation area part of which was redeveloped during the 1970's.
Nottinghamshire County Council was among the partners who funded a project to form a park on an unused green area. This funding is worth £80,000 over two years.
On a smaller scale a private landowner contributed towards a security scheme worth £8,000 to help close a local drugs hot spot.
Broxtowe Council is currently paying Nottinghamshire County Council's landscape group to undertake a concept design for Princes Street, the main street through the site.
This is a speculative undertaking costing £7,000 and it is hoped that this will help to secure funding for a larger project. Designs are being developed which will reflect the local heritage within the living street scene.
In 2006, a successful bid for funding through Neighbourhood Pride was made and £50,000 was awarded. The Council worked with local residents in devising a way forward to regenerate the area using the funding.
A consultation event was held, which led to the formation of a residents group.
A site newsletter was produced and a range of interested organisations got together to establish opportunities and a holistic strategy.
Improvements that followed included the installation of a CCTV system, improved lighting, enhancements to resident's car parks, new street furniture and the redesign of amenity areas.
The Association of Retained Council Housing was set up for councils whose tenants have chosen the local authority as their landlord.
ARCH brings councils who own and manage housing together to get the best deal for their tenants.
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