Aston (Lozells and Birchfield) - Housing

• lies to the North East of the Birmingham City Centre
• identified as one of the 39 most deprived inner city areas in the country
• in the early 1980's Aston was suffering from severe deprivation and many buildings were lacking from decay as a result of lack of maintenance

• neighbourhoods in the north-west of Aston
• housing in these areas is being redeveloped as part of the government-funded Urban living Scheme
  • set up in 2000 to try and improe the quality of life for inner city residents
• some buildings in South Lozells, particularly small, unpopular Victorian terraced houses were demolished and replaced
  • split into individual bedsit flats originally, now converted into large family homes
• to improve security and public spaces, a 'target hardening' community safety project has been delivered in partnership with other schemes
• in Birchfield, tower blocks have been demolished to create space for a new mixed residential development which includes affordable housing for families
• improved housing has raised the image of the areaa and encouraged more families to live there

Scheme set up in Aston, covers three key areas

• Health and Regeneration
  • £400,000 spent setting up the Aston Pride Community Health Centre
• Employment and Business
  • local young people given help to enter the world of work, through a work-experience programme and a dedicated guidance team
• Education and Life Long Learning
  • broadband centres set up to give local people Internet access