Welcome to your latest Sale West update – providing the latest news on the estate enhancements, improvements to your homes and the next steps.
Digging in! Work starts on Catterick Avenue street plan
It’s playtime! Groundwork begins on first play spaces
The levelling up grant will enable us to install an incredible six new play areas at different points across the estate, including Chepstow Avenue, Hurst Avenue and Epsom Avenue.
They will all be natural play areas which focus on balance and make creative use of the space, and will offer fantastic places for children (and their grown-ups!) to enjoy some fun in the fresh air.
There’s currently supply issues with timber which means the equipment will take a little longer to arrive.
Work has begun preparing the Chepstow Avenue site and the rest will follow in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, youngsters are enjoying the recently relaunched junior playground in the heart of the estate.
We’re proud the Irwell Valley Foundation contributed towards the project – along with Our Sale West, Veolia Environmental Trust and One Trafford Partnership. It includes a new nest swing, climbing frame, slides, swings and the zip line.
Mum-of-two Rebecca said her daughters Maisie, eight, and Esme, six, are delighted to have the new playground near to their home.
She said: “The girls absolutely love it – especially the zip wire!
They’ve done a fantastic job and we're spending a lot of time there during the school holidays.”
Creating a home for wildlife too
We’ve been working with resident wood carver Tammy Anstey to create some of the boxes we hope local wildlife will soon start to call home.
The bird and bat boxes will be placed around the estate as part of the plans to enhance the biodiversity of the area.
We’re also installing swift boxes on Goodwood Avenue, in time for the birds to familiarise themselves ahead of next years’ breeding season.
We’ve applied to The Woodland Trust and secured 130 extra trees, which will be planted around the estate in November. We hope the extra trees will also help to deal with the excess surface water and flooding in some areas.
More details will follow soon on how you can join in with the planting.
Keeping you informed
Look out for some unusual footpath markings over the coming weeks which will let you know what’s happening in different areas.
Our regeneration officer Jenni will be stencilling plans around the estate, so you’ll know what’s planned there!
We’ve listened to feedback asking for clearer communication about specific works on different sites, particularly where it can be unclear what the future vision is.
We’ve also ordered some finger signs to use across the estate to help people find their way around on foot and expect to have these in place by the end of September
Countdown to new kitchen works beginning
Our surveyors and contractors Connolly have been busy over the last few weeks getting prepared for the first kitchens to be replaced next month.
This year we’ll be working on homes in Ascot, Goodwood, Aintree and Kempton Avenues.
Customer Natalie will be one of the first. She said: “I’m absolutely buzzing to get the kitchen done!
“I spend my life in there – both my husband and I love to cook so it will be so good to have a lovely new kitchen to work in.”
Natalie has enjoyed picking out the finishes and colour schemes, and added: “I really appreciate that it’s getting done and can’t wait to see the finished result.”
New homes for those in need
So far, we’ve taken handover of 28 new homes for social rent – with nearly 50 per cent of them being let to existing Sale West residents who needed a home more suitable to their needs.
It includes 10 2-bed houses; 12 3-bed houses; 1 4-bed house and 4 2-bed apartments.
WATCH: Here’s a clip from one of our new tenants telling us what she loves about her new home.
Funding boost for next phase
We’re pleased to have attracted funding of £1.4m from Homes England for phase 2 of the Sale West masterplan – with plans to build a further 22 new homes on the estate.
The £4.2m project – which also includes £550k from the Brownfield Land Fund – will be centred around Newbury, Goodwood, Hurst and Ascot Avenues, and made up of 20 1-bed apartments and 2 2-bed homes.
All ground floor apartments will be fully accessible with wider corridors and doorways, level access and wet room bathrooms.
The plans are currently with Trafford Council (although the formal consultation period has now ended) and we expect a decision in September.
An update on grounds maintenance
We know that over the past few months, the grounds maintenance service hasn’t been up to scratch, and we are sorry about this.
Our contractor has experienced staffing issues, and we are working with them to deliver an improvement plan which is now underway.
We have also purchased and taken over maintenance of 16 areas of land from Trafford Council, which will help to improve the consistency in grounds maintenance across the estate going forward.
Here to help with money concerns - free Citizens’ Advice sessions
As spiralling living costs continue to affect household bills, don’t forget we’re funding Citizens Advice sessions at the Sale West community centre every Thursday between 10am and 12pm.
Come along for expert help to manage your money, increase your income and deal with debt.
They know that everyone’s circumstances are different, so will listen to you and tailor support to suit your needs. And they will always offer confidential and non-judgemental advice.
Gladys, who lives in Trafford, found out she was eligible for Pension Credit following a chat with one of their advisors – boosting her weekly income at the same time as opening up other new benefits, such as a council tax reduction.
She said: “I dread to think of the winter in terms of gas and electric – my direct debits have already doubled. I’ve only got the same amount coming in, and it’s not as if I can go out and work to get more, so you do start to wonder where the money will come from.
“That’s why the news I’m eligible for Pension Credit is so good. I’d say to anyone who’s the right age to check to make sure they’re not missing out. It’s important now, more than ever.”
Funding opportunity from Trafford Council
Trafford Council’s Inclusive Neighbourhood Grants Scheme 2022 is open again – inviting community groups and voluntary organisations to apply for up to £2,000 to fund a project or up to £500 to host an event.
If you have an idea for something which would benefit the Sale West community, the next deadline for applications is 31st October.
For more information and to apply click here.