Heaton Urban Village HUV

What are Urban Villages? What are Urban Villages ?

New playgrounds, environmental improvements and other projects are happening in communities across the district thanks to the Urban Village initiative.

The Council has put nearly £1 million into the scheme, which gives local people greater powers to boost regeneration and improve their neighbourhoods.

Twelve areas now have action plans drawn up by residents with support from staff at the district’s five Area Co-ordinator’s Offices. The plans set out priorities for the next few years and can influence how and what services are delivered in those communities.

“These communities have been chosen because they are neither inner city nor rural, which often means they cannot access regeneration funding from elsewhere,” said Janice Thornton, Head of the Council’s Neighbourhood Support Service.  “We aim to strengthen communities by working in partnership with local people to develop projects to make areas safer.”

The Urban Village Initiative promotes support for the development of action plans by the Council in consultation with local communities in urban villages. This work seeks to enable clarity about development priorities, enable where appropriate redesign of services, improve prospects for accessing additional funding and strengthen involvement in civic affairs by local communities.

Who is involved in Heaton Urban Village Partnership?

Heaton Urban Village Partnership (HUVP) has been established on a time limited basis to support the development of Heaton Urban Village Action Plan and see these actions progressed. Membership of the Partnership includes:-

• Residents
• Local voluntary and community based organisations such as Heaton Township Association, Heaton Graveyard Project, SAFE Project
• Ward councillors
• Local business
• Local schools and University
• Members are supported by staff from Bradford West Area Co-ordinators Office in Bradford Council

How does the Partnership work?

Initially the work involved consulting local people on what issues needed to be addressed to help Heaton maintain and improve local services and facilities.  This consultation led to the creation of the Heaton Urban Village Action Plan.  The Partnership has developed a strategic overview, looking for ‘multi-agency’ solutions to locally identified issues.  Work now focuses on ensuring actions are taken which reflect the priorities in the plan, including directing some funding towards local projects.  Meetings are held on a regular basis to take this forward. The Partnership operates according to a Terms of Reference.

Links with other local planning activity

The Urban Villages Programme compliments Council work relating to Local Area Management through Area Committees.  It also links with work on Neighbourhood Action Planning and Parish Planning. HUVP work complements the day to day work of the Ward Councillors in support of community leadership, improvements in the delivery of public services and the delivery of 2020 Vision for the District.