How Peabody is working with others to create green spaces for urban dwellers
Green Spaces for People is a project which provides high-quality green spaces around England. Over 70 neighbourhoods are included – potentially benefiting 19,000 people – and the aim of the project is to physically transform and improve the quality of life for residents.
The project is a partnership between three of the UK's largest housing groups - Places for People, The Riverside Group and Peabody - and it has been made possible through a £15.6 million grant awarded by the Big Lottery Fund Changing Spaces programme, together with matched funding from the partners and local stakeholders.
Work in progress at Peabody's North Row in London
Each space is being specially designed to suit the needs of the local community and proposals include the introduction of parks and community gardens as well as the creation of sports facilities, play areas, wildlife habitats, sensory gardens and green social enterprises.
The portfolio is funding three Peabody projects – Barnwell House, North Row and Clyde Road. Sue Forsyth, Peabody's project manager of IMPROVE, says "By delivering high-quality open spaces we are providing residents with the opportunity to meet each other, lead active lifestyles and enjoy themselves."
Local people are key to the design, development and future use of the spaces. Residents have also been involved in the selection of landscape architects responsible for designing and building the spaces.
Residents will also be encouraged to manage and develop the spaces going forward, creating a real sense of ownership and pride in the community.
By the start of 2010, 287 community consultation events had been held, involving 8,480 people. The majority of the portfolio's capital works will be delivered in 2010/11with 16 projects currently completed and an additional six under construction. In addition, nine jobs have been created and three social enterprises have been established.
As part of this initiative, the partners will share best practice with other housing organisations and resident groups to ensure that similar green spaces can be developed elsewhere.
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