FRESHNEY GREEN

Creating Communities

We have been guiding the Freshney Green Estate Regeneration Programme for over five years, in close collaboration with over five years, in close collaboration with Stamford Homes, Shoreline Housing Association and the local Authority. Our proposals centred on consultation and engagement with the existing estate community who would ultimately live in the revitalised and regenerated estate. As is often the case consultation initially focused around the more vocal residents, those who had opinions and wanted to be involved. But we quickly realised that engaging with the youth community across the estate was critical if we to secure the future success of the development. Youth crime and vandalism across the estate was certainly exacerbating the issues inherent within the existing built fabric but also these were potentially our home owners and tenants of the future so securing their enthusiasm and ownership of the new proposals was a central objective to the programme of consultation.I have to say it wasn’t easy coming up with formats of consultation they would be interested in, but it challenged us to find more inventive ways of communicating the proposals.

Our exhibition boards became more enlivened and approachable, while consultation was wholly interactive and mobile around the estate. Alot of the discussion focused around play and recreational spaces, as you can imagine, but there was also a surprising amount of interest and ambition with rergards to the built fabric too. One idea we have successfully delivered for the estate was offered by a six years old girl. She asked for an allocated graffiti wall, so young people would stop spraying words on the side of her house. The wall seems to have successfully focused the estate graffiti artists’ efforts in one place and has created a safe gathering point for the young residents.