DEIGHTON and Brackenhall Initiative (DBI) is nearing the final phase after more than 15 years of regeneration of housing and community facilities. Examiner reporter LOUISE COOPER interviews DBI chief officer Andi Briggs about the last leg of the project and looks back at where it all began:

IT is an area which has fought to shed its unsavoury past.

And 15 years after the DBI was formed – the final homes are being built – bringing to a close a massive regeneration project.

Chief Officer Andi Briggs said: “We are now in the final phase with around 50 houses to be completed.

“We started in 1997 and the first phase was complete in 2003. Many people said at that time ‘You’ll never sell a house in Brackenhall’ and it was a big risk.

“But it was widely consented that the area needed regeneration and people knew it couldn’t carry on as it was, and with a huge cash injection the DBI has fulfilled its goal to regenerate the area and enhance community facilities.”

And 2012 has seen a decade-long plan for a new community centre completed at long last.

Andi explains: “The old Brackenhall community centre was well used by a wide range of groups, but had really out-served its purpose. With one large hall it wasn’t meeting the needs of its diverse users.

“With the plans for the new hall it was really difficult getting the site approved as it was a sports field.

“We had a lot of consultation with Sports England but we now have our centre which exceeds all expectations. I haven’t had one person say it’s not a fantastic building. It’s not just a cold industrial building. It’s been designed to be warming and multi purpose.”

But besides the bricks and mortar, he said it was the community spirit which ignited the project from the start.

He added: “The late Joan Mallinson was instrumental in the new facility and we were so pleased she was able to open the facility for us. It is a testament to her love of the community.”

The centre, Northfield Hall, in Norfolk Avenue, now houses a children’s play-gym, cafe, meeting rooms and has already hosted children’s parties, weddings and funerals.

Brackenhall United Reform Church also relocated to the purpose built church inside the centre.

And it is not just Brackenhall where the project is still reviving the community.

Last year DBI initiative funded a major revamp of Sheepridge to restore pride in the once considered ‘eyesore’ area.

Work has continued this year with a new car park and a new launderette opening in Sheepridge village.

Andi said: “We’ve spent a lot of money in the village centre which is the main through road. The comments we have received are hugely positive.

“The shops have been given a facelift and a lot of stone-blasting has been done to improve the area. One of the shops has become a launderette which we took on and is now run by our new organisation Local Services For You.

“The idea is to create a lasting legacy.

“There is probably two or three years of the DBI left and we want to make sure its not a case of turning off the lights on things which we have established.

“One way of doing that is to set up new organisations which will continue to thrive after DBI has ceased. The Sheepridge Launderette is a great example of giving a local service and employing local people.”

But despite being on the home-straight DBI still has several projects to roll out in 2013.

The main one is improvements to homes on the Riddings Estate. The aim is to give homes a face-lift and carry out kerbside improvements.

“A major enhancement of the children’s play area with a multi-use games area (MUGA).

Andi added: “These are substantial improvements to significantly enhance the area and facilities.”

He said the plans for the MUGA will be unveiled in the New Year.