HOUSING officials at Kirklees Council plan to knock down dilapidated homes on a small Huddersfield estate.

Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing's main board has approved suggestions to demolish old council properties on Ridge Street and Ridge Close at Primrose Hill.

The future of council homes on adjoining Elizabeth Street and Lawton Street will probably also be discussed at some time.

The Ridge Street and Ridge Close homes would be replaced by new ones, built by Kirklees Council in partnership with Yorkshire Housing Association.

Out of 64 properties in the two streets, 42 are empty.

The number of empty properties is rising because people are unwilling to live in the houses, which need major repairs.

Their rundown state has made them targets for vandalism, other anti-social behaviour and criminal activity.

It has not been decided how many properties would be affected but it is thought plans will focus on Ridge Street and Ridge Close.

The plans have to be passed to Kirklees Council's Cabinet for approval before the project can go ahead.

The Cabinet is expected to discuss the plans in a few weeks.

Work is already under way to decide how to consult Primrose Hill residents about the proposals.

The Primrose Hill plans are the latest in a series of housing re- developments by Kirklees Council.

Houses on the Sheepridge and Brackenhall estates have been demolished and replaced by the council and housing associations.

Work is under way to demolish the Rashcliffe estate at Lockwood.

Residents there are being moved out so that Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing (KNH) and its housing association partners can start demolishing the old houses and building larger homes.

Asylum seekers living in Rashcliffe are being moved to Holme Park and Bishop's Court tower blocks at Berry Brow.

The troubled tower blocks have been subject to a series of police raids to weed out nuisance tenants.

To combat such troublesome tenants, KNH is installing a new digital CCTV system at the flats in December.

A new company took over responsibility for security at the flats on November 3. Staff patrol the blocks, with trained staff on hand to deal with a range of situations.

Dave Bennett, KNH acting neighbourhood services manager, said all the improvements were part of the council's drive to attract more tenants to areas like Primrose Hill by raising standards.

He said: "The council is always looking for opportunities to change and improve.

"Where there are defined problems it looks at providing a better solution."

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