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

green knights?

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 frithmathew.frith@peabody.org.uk