Over half a million pounds awarded to make Westcliff safer

Following a bid from us and The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside (OPCC), a total of £550,000 has been awarded to improve the Westcliff estate in Scunthorpe. 

The grant, from the Home Office Safer Streets Fund, will support ongoing work to cut acquisitive crime such as burglary and robbery, making residents safer and improving the security of homes and the surrounding area.

Features of the project will include new entrance doors and video intercom systems in communal flats, secure cycle storage units, and communal fencing and gates to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. The funding also includes a £20,000 community fund to encourage residents to submit good ideas for smaller projects to make the area safer, and gardening initiatives.

Since 2017 we have invested over £9m in Westcliff to build new homes, a community hub and bring much needed new services to the area with further projects, including this one, in the pipeline. 

Jan Williams, Head of Opportunities here at Ongo said: “Over the years the area has had lots of negative attention, but it is a great place with even greater people. This is a continuing commitment from us and our partners, and we are over the moon to hear about the huge sum of funding the area will be awarded.

“It will empower local people and support our mission to create a safe place to live, work and thrive in. We are so excited be involved in the project and can’t wait to see the difference it will make.”

Along with ourselves, OPCC, Humberside Police, North Lincolnshire Council and the Community Safety Partnership will work with people in the area to deliver the project over the next 12 months.

Police and Crime Commissioner Keith Hunter said: “This funding is the latest in a series of successful bids by my office to build safer communities. This Safer Streets Fund announcement represents positive news for the Westcliff Estate, this funding will deliver initiatives that will prevent and reduce crimes such as burglary, theft and robbery and also encourage community involvement to benefit all who live there.”

To find out more about the work we’re doing in Westcliff, take a look at our website and for more information on the Home Office Safer Streets Fund, visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/safer-streets-fund-application-process.

‘As seen on Housing Digital‘