A SIX-month project costing £60,000 has been launched to draw up a long-term renewal plan for South Bank.

The area, which has more than 1,000 terraced houses, suffers from fear of crime and anti-social behaviour.

An increasing number of properties are vacant and house prices in the area are falling.

Regeneration may involve demolishing some properties, improvements and new development.

Residents will work with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council on the decision-making through a programme of consultations, workshops and exhibitions.

After that, the South Bank plan will be finalised.

South Bank ward councillor Pearl Hall said: "Next year is South Bank's 150th birthday celebration, so let's hope we have something to celebrate at last."

Ward councillor Ian Jeffrey, chairman of the SRB Partnership Board and the resident-led South Bank Housing Strategy Steering Group, said he would encourage his neighbours to take opportunities to express their opinions.

He said: "We will work on the possibilities to achieve improvements with whatever funds we are able to get."

Matthew Spry, from consultants Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners, said: "Whatever the outcome of this work, and no-one is under any illusion that there are easy answers, it must have the broad support of the community, pretty much down to a street-by- street level.

"The plan must be realistic in terms of what can be achieved and be sufficiently convincing to persuade housing investors and funders that there is a long-term and sustainable future for South Bank as a community."