Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Mathew FrithLandscape Regeneration Manager
Peabody Trust
Neighbourhoods Greenhow green spaces within social housing
can enrich communities
neighbourhoodsneighbourhoods greenimproving the green spaces of social housing improving the green spaces of social housing
20% of total housing stock, for over 5 million people in England
owned by local authorities, >1550 Registered Social Landlords (RSLs), Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) and others
high level of regulation via Housing Corporation and Audit Commission, linked to DCLG
high proportion of disadvantaged communities
specialist provision (e.g. sheltered, BME, RSI)
affordable housing funded by DCLG, HC and private sector (£15 billion p.a.)
RSLs acquiring more land
social housingsocial housing
our cultureour culture
our cultureour culture
landscape?landscape?
challengeschallenges regulatory priorities (e.g. Decent Homes)
raising awareness
challenging perceptions
internal capacity and expertise
management implications; residents, estates, buildings, ownership (leaseholders, social rent, etc.)
security, crime and anti-social behaviour
private versus communal space
health & safety and low-risk culture
funding
integrated?integrated?
significant legacy of poorly-designed and under-managed spaces
accumulative disinvestment over many decades
high fragmentation (compared to parks and other public open spaces) – ‘bitty’
significant contrasts in scale/layout
ambiguous ownership for users
increasing complexity of tenure
land characteristicsland characteristics
under-investmentunder-investment
fragmentationfragmentation
leaseholder
leaseholder
general needs
general needs general needs
general needs
general needs
shortlife
key worker
key worker
market rent
sheltered
market rent
sheltered
tenure mixtenure mix
shortlife
general needs
sheltered
public? private?public? private?
territoriesterritories
hidden cornershidden corners
mugger shrubsmugger shrubs
tensions between private and communal needs
competition for use (e.g. car-parking)
development pressure
competition for resources
complex resourcing models
absence of relevant regulatory framework
low aspirations in terms of design and use
spaces viewed as liabilities rather than assets
land characteristicsland characteristics
competition for usecompetition for use
conflicting interest?
conflicting interest?
dumbed down?dumbed down?
relevant?relevant?
too much?too much?
simple mistakes?simple mistakes?
ownership?ownership?
• planting is viewed as a potential magnet for rubbish and anti-social behaviour rather than a source of pleasure for residents
• planting on new sites is often poorly thought out; an orthodox mix of hardy evergreen shrubs with little consideration of what best suits the area
• sustainability and biodiversity are rarely considered
plantingplanting
orthodoxy?orthodoxy?
looks good?looks good?
perspicacityperspicacity
works well?works well?
perspicacityperspicacity
density?density?
strengthsstrengths focus on our residents
knowledge of our residents and their needs
belief in empowering residents
successful track records as regeneration agents
ability to secure resources
political priorities
confidence
to foster communal cohesion and empowerment
to enhance residents’ well-being
to improve play provision
to help meet climate change challenges
to encourage biodiversity
to enhance grounds and buildings
to create stronger links to nearby parks and green spaces
to secure new partnerships and funding…
opportunitiesopportunities
legacylegacy
Neighbourhoods GreenNeighbourhoods Greensocial housing greenspace resource• highlight the importance of green spaces for the social housing
sector• audit and evaluate social housing green space management,
design and status• disseminate best practice within the sector• providing guidance and training• review, monitor and promote case studies • establish a network of champions within the social housing
sector
Neighbourhoods GreenNeighbourhoods Green established by Notting Hill and
Peabody Trust in 2003 3-year pump-prime funding from
DCLG 2004-07 web-site, publications, seminars shortly to publish Scene not heard current work on GFA and tree
management seeking to expand social landlord
‘ownership’ draft business plan 2007-10
Hyde Notting Hill Housing Southern Foundation CircleAnglia Gallions Places for People Riverside Family Mosaic Kush Peabody Trust
Broomleigh Kensington & Chelsea
TMO CityWest Homes Hackney Homes Presentation Homes Newlon
and others…?
Neighbourhoods GreenNeighbourhoods Green
Decent homesDecent homesDecent spacesDecent spaces
Areas of opportunityAreas of opportunity
a natural estatea natural estate highlights the potential for
ecological improvements to housing estates
simple techniques based on tried and tested schemes
aimed at social landlords and resident groups
research by Groundwork• Clapton Park TMO biodiverse estate• Hammersmith & Fulham Housing
Improvement Programme• High Path Estate Community Garden• Hounslow Estates Development• Old Ford Housing Association; Furniture in
the Street• Productive Landscapes in Preston• Orbit Bexley BTCV Green Gym• Peabody Trust Tree Strategy
case studiescase studies
awarenessawareness
It is vital that we include our residents, we want them to be delighted by their surroundings not
intimidated by them. A sense of ‘belonging’ can be engendered by involving our residents in
planning and nurturing the environment.
Buxhall Crescent: community growth through gardening
doing it…doing it…
Hyde Charitable Trust has donated a grant towards the refurbishment of Somerville Adventure Playground
regenerationregeneration
innovationinnovation
engagementengagement
re-floweringre-flowering
empowermentempowerment
new venturesnew ventures
bring togetherbring together
art of the possibleart of the possible
next steps?next steps? Green Flag Award feasibility
pilots with Natural England
Big Lottery Fund programme
tree management guidance
climate change adaptation
audit of spaces?
enlarge partnership
secure future funding
the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales
Housing Corporation IGP grant to test viability for social housing landscapes
6 pilot estates tested during 2007
recommendations to GFA Advisory Board in January 2008
final report being compiled
Green Flag AwardGreen Flag Award
a natural estatea natural estate Natural England grant to test
viability for ecological improvements to social housing landscapes
10 pilot estates to be trialled during 2007-8, potentially over 3 years
1 in Bradford, 9 in London
changing spaceschanging spaces
changing spaceschanging spaces consortium of Places for People,
Riverside and Peabody Trust have secured £15.6m from Big Lottery
3-year programme to fund the improvement of the landscapes of over 70 housing estates across England
opportunity to demonstrate the potential of the sector to deliver greenspace objectives
vehicle for promoting Neighbourhoods Green
adaptation
adaptation
researchresearch scale of our
landscapes at regional and national level unknown
quantitative surveys required to better identify our potential role and responsibilities as a greenspace provider
widespread poor practice
driven by risk culture
Trees in Towns II identifies loss of skills in stock transfers and low density of trees in poor neighbourhoods
Forestry Commission funded targeted guidance in draft
better data on subsidence and tree root hazards
treestrees
health and well-being
space standards for new-build
spaces in stock transfers
children’s play
food growing
spaces for the elderly
cars, thoroughfares and Home Zones
and moreand more……
key performance key performance indicators?indicators?
www.neighbourhoodsgreen.org.uk
mathew frithmathew [email protected]
