This plan provides an understanding of River Clyde Homes’
current activities and what it plans to do in your area in the next
two to three years. It is one of a set of seven plans which cover
the areas in Inverclyde where River Clyde Homes has houses
and provides a service.
Neighbourhood Plan
Greenock East
The Greenock East plan includes the following areas:Gibshill
Sinclair Street Area
Cartsdyke Court
Grosvenor Street Area
Craigieknowes
Bridgend
North Maukinhill
South Maukinhill
Strone
Belville Street Area
John Street
Oct 2011
for
Our Contract with you
At the time of stock transfer, River Clyde
Homes made a number of promises as part
of our commitment to improving the quality of
accommodation and of the housing service we
provide. Here is what we have achieved so far.
1.Rent Guarantee
River Clyde Homes has pegged rents to the Retail Price Index since transfer.
2.Better Repairs Service
We have introduced an appointments system for repairs. We have also significantly improved Gas Safety
performance with 100% of our homes, with gas central heating, now having an up-to-date gas safety certificate.
We have introduced a cyclical repairs programme that includes external painting and gutter cleaning.
In Greenock East, we have carried out the following works:Maintenance
Area
Gutter Cleaning
Morris Street (1,3,11,29,8,16,26,28)
John Wilson St (4-20)
Auchmountain Road (8,10,20,36,40,13,27,37)
Quarrier Street (1-11)
Moffat Street (20,24,30,25);Border Street (25,41) Weir Street (2-18)
Close Painting
Barnhill Street (8-18)
Ladyburn Street (20-26)
Finnieston Lane (1-31)
Sinclair Street (45-49)
Bawhirley Road (16-24,53)
Belville Street (4-16,31-71)
Clynder Road (1-11,37)
St Lawrence Street (46-52)
John Street Tenements
Carwood Street (5)
John Wilson Street (4-20)
Quarrier Street (1-11)
Weir Street (2-18)
Ladyburn Street (20-26)
Sinclair Street (45-49)
Belville Street (4-16)
Grosvenor Road (39,49,54)
External Painter works
John Wilson Street (4-20)
Quarrier Street (1-11)
Weir Street (2-18)
Sinclair Street (45-49)
Ladyburn Street (20-26)
Belville Street (4-16)
3.Improvements to tenants’ homes to meet the
Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS)
River Clyde Homes is working to meet the Scottish Government’s standard for social housing called the Scottish
Housing Quality Standard (SHQS).
Since 2007, we have carried out internal and external fabric improvements to meet the Scottish Housing Quality
Standard (SHQS) in the BISF houses in South Maukinhill.
4.New and upgraded heating systems
We have carried out programmes of work in some of our sheltered housing projects.
Neighbourhood Plan
for
Greenock East
5.Improvements to the environment around people’s homes
We have identified programmes of work that will commence in 2011. In addition, a feasibility study was
completed for the site of the Belville Street multistoreys and the lower site to John Street. The study
examined, sustainable uses for the site and from this several funding applications have been made to
progress the wild area, community garden and a pilot community facility is underway. We also held a
successful campaign to address litter problems in the area. In addition, we are carrying out a review of our
estate services teams of caretakers to improve our services to residents. More information about potential
changes will be rolled out later in 2011 for resident consultation.
6.Action on antisocial
behaviour
We have trained our staff and
implemented a policy that takes
a tougher stance on antisocial
behaviour. We have protocols
in place to work with Inverclyde
Council’s Antisocial Behaviour
Unit who can be contacted on
0800 01 317 01
7.More rights
and security
9.Up to 1,000 new homes to be built
We are building new homes in Port Glasgow and East Greenock,
with further new build houses underway in South West Greenock.
141 new own door homes are being built in Gilmour Street, Grosvenor
Road, Fairrie/MacPhail Streets, Carwood/Sinclair Streets, East Crawford
Street and the site of the former Octavia Court, which was demolished
in 2011. The houses vary from two bedroom, four person terraced
houses to five bedroom, seven person units. We have also purchased
land for future development at James Watt Dock.
A contribution of £49,000 to improve the play facilities in the area was
made by River Clyde Homes to Inverclyde Council.
We have granted Scottish Secure
Tenancies to all tenants. Tenants
who transferred from Inverclyde
Council have retained their
existing rights.
10.New life to
the area
8.More say
We have almost 200 members
of River Clyde Homes. Members
are entitled to be elected onto
the Board. We have six places
for tenant representatives on the
River Clyde Homes Board. We
also have a Tenant Participation
Strategy, due for review in 2011,
including a sounding board of
over 100 residents who give
their opinions to us on policies
and services.
We have created jobs
in Inverclyde, including
employing six apprentices
in our own building
maintenance team and our
contractors have recruited
sixty three apprentices. We
have sourced grant funding
for the Green Team, an
employment project with
The Trust that provides training
for a number of trainees in
environmental works.
11.Financial
assistance
To help customers with their
finances, we have two welfare
benefit staff in our office and also
provide grant funding to Grand
Central Savings at 30 Nicolson
Street, Greenock so that a basic
banking service is available to
those who wish to open an
account, keep their money safe
and manage their finances.
Neighbourhood Plan
for
Greenock East
Our Future Plans
What is planned to 2013/14
The experience gained throughout the last three years of
operation has resulted in us reviewing the way in which
we upgrade houses to meet the Scottish Housing Quality
Standards (SHQS). In order to improve the delivery of
our planned investment work, from 2012 onwards,
each home within the programme, will be surveyed both
internally and externally against the SHQS criteria. Any
improvements required to your home will be carried out as
part of one programme and within one financial year.
The Scottish Government’s SHQS criteria have five broad
categories. In summary, your home:
• Should meet the tolerable standard.
• Must be free from serious disrepair.
• Must be energy efficient.
• Must have modern facilities and services.
• Must be healthy, safe and secure.
The following is the proposed investment programme for each of the next two years.
However, this may be subject to change:Year
Area
2011/12
Sinclair Street (internals)
Belville Stilts
Grosvenor Road/Lane
2012/13
2013/14
Craigieknowes
Belville Street Area (cottage flats)
North Maukinhill
Bridgend
Strone
Gibshill
Scheduled demolition of Buildings:Year
Area
2011/12
1-3,6 Craigieknowes Street
5,7,11,20,22 Belville Avenue
1 Bawhirley Road
19-29 East Crawford Street
2012/13
Selkirk, Melrose and Peebles Courts
*Consultation on the furure of Hawick Court will take place in late 2011.
Neighbourhood Plan
for
Greenock East
The Programme for 2014 and 2015
River Clyde Homes’ plan is that all our core stock will be maintained to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard
by 2015. In 2014 and 2015, we will carry out works to the remaining core stock. We will also draw up further
programmes of cyclical and planned maintenance. More information will come out to residents as plans are
being developed.
River Clyde Homes has identified its core stock by carrying out a stock condition survey and looking at the popularity
of all its areas. The recent economic changes and reducing population in Inverclyde means we have to continually
review this. We have some areas where we need to carry out further consultation with residents and will do this
by carrying out a feasibility study with residents’ groups and tenants to assess demand for the area and gauge
residents’ views on how they would like to see their area regenerated.
In Greenock East, the properties subject to a feasibility study are John Street, Blairmore area, Cartsdyke Court
and tenements in Clynder Road and Finnieston Street. Further properties may be added to the feasibility study if
circumstances change. We anticipate that the studies will be carried out in 2013 and 2014 and more information will
come out to residents as we start the feasibility studies.
The Housing Service
River Clyde Homes delivers its Housing Management Service through two area teams – East and West. Included
with this document are details of your Housing Team and who to contact regarding queries. We currently have two
offices – one in Wallace Place, Greenock and one in Scarlow Street, Port Glasgow. Because the Wallace Place
building is required for a new library, we need to vacate this at the end of 2011. We have secured a lease to move
our office to Roxburgh Street, Greenock. In addition we will be maintaining services in Port Glasgow but will be
seeking an alternative location. More details will follow later in the year.
Neighbourhood Plan
for
Greenock East
Get involved!
We want your feedback on your Neighbourhood Plan. Please fill
in the enclosed questionnaire and return to the freepost address.
Tenant participation is about tenants and residents taking part in the decision-making processes and influencing
decisions about housing policies, housing conditions and related services.
The aim of tenant participation is to improve the
standard of housing conditions and services.
There are many ways you can get involved with
River Clyde Homes.
You can:
• Become a tenant member;
• Join our Board or
• Form a local Registered Tenants’ Organisation.
There are other, less formal, ways you can participate
in River Clyde Homes:
You can:
• Join our sounding board;
• Take part in consultation for refurbishment
or demolition works in your area;
• Join one of the many tenants and residents
associations across Inverclyde or
• Take part in consultations affecting plans
and services in your area.
There are four Registered Tenants’ Organisations in
your area:
• Cartsdyke Tenants’ and Residents’ Association
• Belville Community Association
• Weir Street Residents’ Group
• South Maukinhill Tenants’ Association.
For further information contact:
Keith Moore, Communications Manager:
(01475) 712547
e-mail: [email protected]
Alternatively you can contact FITRA (Federation of
Inverclyde Tenants’ and Residents’ Associations) who
can give you advice on joining or setting up a group.
Tel: (01475) 892019
e-mail: [email protected]
River Clyde Homes is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland (SC329031) and as a
Scottish Charity (SC038584). The company’s registered office is Wallace Place, Greenock, PA15 1LZ.