THIRTY homes in an area plagued by derelict housing and antisocial behaviour will be demolished after Barnsley Council invoked a ‘last resort’ compulsory purchase order.
Terraces on Co-operative Street and Victoria Street, in Goldthorpe, will be flattened and nine new two and three-bedroom council houses will be built in their place.
The plan - which is set to be signed off by ruling cabinet members next week - will result in £1.74m being spent on acquisition costs, while £441,000 has been set aside for compensation.
Just one of the 30 is occupied by its owner, while another is occupied but owned by a private landlord.
Alison Dalton, group leader for strategic housing and growth, told the Chronicle: “Officers have formed good relationships with the people who are impacted by this plan as it’s been in planning since May 2022.
“The compensation is intended to cover the costs associated with relocating and purchasing replacement properties, however exact amount of compensation will vary depending on individual circumstances.
“It is intended to ensure that both tenants and homeowners are not financially disadvantaged by the acquisition process.”
In 2021 the council commissioned a regeneration specialist, Arcadis, to look at what measures could improve housing in the heart of Goldthorpe, along with the health and wellbeing of residents.
Arcadis produced a masterplan which presented the potential regeneration options for the housing project area.
Public consultation was carried out to capture views on the potential regeneration options, with 67 per cent voting in favour of demolition.
“While compulsory powers should only be exercised as a last resort it’s recognised that if an acquiring authority waits for negotiations to break down before starting the compulsory purchase process, valuable time will be lost,” Ms Dalton added.
“This is an area that’s a key one for Barnsley Council - a lot of money has and is being spent on Goldthorpe’s regeneration and these new homes will not only provide Berneslai Homes-run properties but improve the area, too.
“The proposed housing would make a contribution towards that council’s supply of high-quality new housing and boost affordable housing stock in Goldthorpe for which there is high demand.”
Compulsory purchase orders - although rare - have been used by the council before to boost areas elsewhere in Goldthorpe and Grimethorpe.
More than £23m has been poured into Goldthorpe as part of the government’s Towns Fund scheme which will pay for the demolition work, compensation and new-build homes.
Coun Robin Franklin, cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture, said: “The Goldthorpe project aligns with our commitment to developing sustainable growth and providing affordable and environmentally-friendly housing within the Dearne Valley and Goldthorpe area.
“By developing these new builds, we will not only diversify the property types and tenures in the area but also reducing the 'in-use' carbon footprint for their occupiers, contributing to a greener and more sustainable borough.”
