A £3 million housing development is ready to get under way on the edge of a problem estate visited by Home Secretary Jack Straw in January.

The North British Housing Association will start work on the 64 timber-framed houses on a site opposite Eccleshill Upper School, next to the Ravenscliffe estate, next month.

NBHA believe the new housing, to be completed by May 1999, could trigger the regeneration of the council estate, which has a history of crime problems.

Mr Straw visited the estate on January 15 to see it for himself after an invitation from residents Adele Murphy, Veronica Priestley and Zoe Fairweather.

Saltaire architects Rance, Booth & Smith have been awarded the contract to design the estate's buildings while the construction work will be carried out by Tarmac Contract Housing.

Rance, Booth & Smith's spokesman Linda Hollings said: "The houses will have passive solar collectors, which are in fact a bit like a conservatories, built on to their sides which will bring heat back into the houses.

"The North British Housing Association is very forward looking in terms of green aspects and environmentally friendly housing."

The houses will be largely semi-detached, and many will have large gardens.

Tenants will be actively encouraged and trained to develop fruit and vegetable gardens.

Long-term schemes for the development include a central community centre to be built by and for the surrounding community.

There are also plans to develop the valley next to it for a reed bed to treat drainage.

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