A 'FORGOTTEN' housing estate has been handed a major funding boost to help kick-start ambitious regeneration proposals.

Symphony Housing Group has secured £72,240 to help regenerate the Murdishaw estate in Runcorn.

The housing association received the cash injection as part of a nationwide £32million Estate Regeneration Fund, announced by the government last week.

Symphony will use their allocation of the Estate Regeneration Fund to begin consultation with the community and prepare a masterplan for the estate.

Jim McMillan, business development lead at Symphony Housing Group, said: “This funding is great news for Murdishaw.

“While nearby areas such as Castlefields and Windmill Hill have seen significant investment in recent years, Murdishaw is perceived by some as the ‘forgotten neighbourhood’ in Runcorn.

“This funding will allow us to work with Halton Council, other key partners and residents to explore ways in which we can improve the estate.”

Murdishaw is one of 105 estates nationwide set to benefit from the Estate Regeneration Fund, which will speed up regeneration schemes in their early stages.

Housing and Planning Minister Gavin Barwell said: “Estates regeneration must be locally-led and this £32m fund will help breathe new life into estates throughout the country.

“It will help more ordinary working people have the security of a decent place to live.”