The History of the Hartlepool, Redcar, Stockton Road (HRS) General Improvement Area 

In the post-war years Housing Policy in the UK was principally focused on redevelopment through an approach called Comprehensive Development Areas (CDAs). Much of the older housing in Hillfields was subject to this mass clearance and rebuilding approach, which resulted in the development of the Hillfields Flats. By the end of the 1960's the thinking was beginning to change. Councils and activists were looking for a less disruptive approach to renewal and this was supported by the economics - renovation of the existing housing stock was cheaper than comprehensive renews. The concept of area renewal was being developed and this was legislated in the 1969 Housing Act.

The 1969 Housing Act enabled local authorities to declare "General Improvement Areas" (GIAs) for the purpose of improving the housing stock and environment in areas of older housing. One of the little used powers of the Act,  Section 28, allowed for other "suitably qualified" people to submit GIA declaration reports. In June 1973, the HRS Residents Association Committee, with the support of a number of professional supporters, submitted its own declaration report to the City Council's Housing Committee.  In September 1973, after the efforts of the Residents Association had received extensive publicity in the local press and on television the Housing Committee recommended the declaration of the GIA. The City Council formally approved the declaration of the GIA in October 1973 and  it became the first in the country to be declared on the basis of a residents report. The Declaration Report included a detailed survey of all of the people living in the area, together with an opinion survey showing the attitudes of the local residents, a diagram of the house types in the area, a plan showing housing tenure and a plan showing basic facilities in houses in the area

Following its success in achieving the declaration, the Residents Association negotiated with the City Council for authority to prepare and submit their own proposals for the area. The Council agreed to locate a hut in the area where meetings and exhibitions could be held. They also agreed to purchase properties coming on the market and to use empty houses as temporary accommodation. The City Council would not support the employment of a local person to support the residents, so the Residents Association enlisted the support of three final year planning students from Lanchester Polytechnic to draw up alternative plans for the area. A report presented to the Residents Association Committee formed the basis of a report which the Committee submitted to the City Council and was later used for the design of the GIA proposals.

This page was last updated 27/05/03