EFFORTS continue to pump new life into a rundown area of Middlesbrough.

About 200 houses and flats have already been bulldozed in North Ormesby.

Councillors will be asked to approve a multi-million pound masterplan for redevelopment, incorporating completion of the demolition of the old Trinity estate, at a meeting next week.

They will also be asked to give the go-ahead for the compulsory purchase of 57 houses, because officials estimate it would cost more than £2m to bring them up to a reasonable standard.

The remaining houses in the Trinity area of North Ormesby will be replaced with a modern development of 150 new homes.

Councillor Ron Lowes, Middlesbrough Council's executive member for housing and the chairman of the North Ormesby Initiative, said: "We realise that for the people still living in the Trinity area, this is a major step.

"We can promise that the changes will be managed sensitively so that any disturbance is minimised.

"We'll talk with them, on a one-to-one basis, to see what help they need and will help rehouse them.

"We will particularly try to make sure that anyone who wants to come back to North Ormesby after the work has been done, can do so."

Coun Lowes said: "These proposals are in many ways the next important piece in the jigsaw for the regeneration of North Ormesby. They are vitally important to our efforts to bring new housing and further investment to the community.

"That investment has already created the Trinity Centre, a modern and welcoming community centre and over the next 18 months will create the new £10m medical village and neighbourhood nursery, providing first class facilities at the heart of the community. Added to this, there are plans to upgrade roads, the market square and the whole environment of North Ormesby."

There will be continuing consultation with local residents before the master plan is approved by the North Ormesby Initiative Steering Group and the ideas carried out by the council.

Coun Lowes said: "The North Ormesby initiative is a concerted effort by the council, health agencies and the community to put the heart back into North Ormesby, so that it is a strong and viable community for years to come.

"I hope people will understand that these plans are important to the wellbeing of the whole neighbourhood.