Why Regeneration

    Transform South Yorkshire (TSY) is the housing and regeneration partnership for South Yorkshire’s Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder (HMR) area. TSY is the largest of the English Pathfinders; a diverse area it covers Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield with around 300,000 residents and 140,000 households.

TSY’s Vision for the Pathfinder is:  
"To build and support sustainable communities and successful neighbourhoods where the quality and choice of housing underpins a buoyant economy and an improved quality of life".

Why did this part of South Yorkshire need HMR funding and support from TSY?

Some parts of England, particularly the North and parts of the Midlands had become less desirable to live in than other parts of the country. House prices in these areas were lower and already weakened economies suffered as people moved to better areas. Homes in these communities were boarded up leaving streets abandoned and unattractive, which in turn led to an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour. 'Housing market weakness' as this is known, had become a vicious circle that was damaging these communities and lowering the quality of life and expectations of those living in them.

What is being done to solve the problem?

In 2003 the Government launched an initiative to tackle low demand areas across the country. Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders were launched in 9 areas of the UK to fundamentally change the housing market and attract people back into areas that had become unpopular.

Since 2003, Transform South Yorkshire has refurbished thousands of homes across the region, making many of them more energy efficient and cheaper to run. TSY has demolished homes that had fallen into disrepair and invested in high quality, well designed new-build properties.  HMR funding has also helped to create green spaces for communities to enjoy in the areas surrounding their homes, helped to plan and fund better facilities such as schools and learning centres, whilst also investing in public realm improvements and public art. Through consultation and close working with people affected by the regeneration of their local communities, the Pathfinder has sought to make the re-housing and redevelopment process as painless as possible.