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Rathcoole Estate, Belfast

Contact: Roy McPherson, Special Projects Branch, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, 3rd Floor, The Housing Centre, Adelaide Street, Belfast BT2 8PB
Catalyst: Major problems of violence and lawlessness. Apathy and despondency amongst residents, little feeling of togetherness – “anonymous place to live”. Housing Executive embarked on big renovation programme of the estate, including the demolition of some towers. Housing managers and existing resident’s association made an effort to forge a new start.
Focus: Resident consultation, security, greening. Made it a “safer, softer place to live”.
Security: CCTV, fence, 24 hour security guards. Invested in proper training for security guards. This has made a big impact on level of violence.
Greening: estate had big expanse of impersonal green space. It was costing a lot just for the Housing Executive to keep it neat and tidy – wanted to do something more constructive with the money being spent on cutting the grass. Used landscape architect and consulted residents – community garden, fruit bushes, somewhere to sit out and meet neighbours, aimed to design it in a way that cultivated ownership.
Residents’ involvement: Consultation process. Lottery funded visit to England to get ideas from projects there. Residents clear about what they wanted in terms of design, colours, etc. Community association involved in planning development of community garden.
Supporting organisations: Main push seems to have some from Housing Executive professionals on the ground. Real effort at consultation and letting residents preferences steer the revamping of the towers. Actively went out to engage with residents – door-knocking etc. Still found it difficult to generate interest.

Burrowes Street Estate, Walsall.

Six 8 storey towers.
Contact: Terry Eadis, Burrowes Street TMC, The Management and Resource Centre, Burrowes Street, Walsall WS2 8NN
Initiative came from existing tenants’ group, which decided to embark on the road to becoming a TMO. Galvanised by opportunities for City Challenge and Estate Action – funding environment.
Relies on the “committed few”. 6-7 are active day-to-day. Long process, importance of training. Asserting who’s boss, who’s the customer – LA and contractors used to sorting all jobs out between themselves. The TMO has now assumed much of the maintenance budget and deals with contractors direct. TMO employs staff. Manages finances – has been much more successful at getting more repairs done within the budget than was the LA. Funding for ‘Management and Resource Centre’, lease it out for seminars etc.
Importance of having a fairly settled, stable population on the estate. TMO built houses to encourage balance of ages and family types. Virtuous circle now with families of the residents wanting to move on to the estate.
Taken over grounds maintenance. Installed fences for privacy. Divided some space up into garden plots. Footpaths, benches. Britain in Bloom Award.
Social activities reduce isolation: luncheon club for elderly, breakfast club run by volunteers so earns some money for the estate.
Issue of furniture from voids. Offered to next tenants or goes to furniture recycling / community transport project.

Holly Street, Dalston, London

Contact: Ken Gilmour, 16d Grange Court, 355 Queensbridge Road, Dalston, London E8 3JD; and Stuart Woodin, Community Regeneration Consultant, 66 Geoffrey Road, London SE4 1NT
Catalyst was regeneration initiative in the area which required community involvement and consultation with tenants. Issue-based sub-groups (including older residents’ concerns) formed out of which grew a community trust – the Queensbridge Trust. Part of this process was consultation and decisions about housing. Originally residents wanted all towers demolished but it emerged that the older tenants liked tower block living – safety, spacious – and one needed to be kept to meet housing density requirements.
Residents v. involved in design issues. Insisted on 24 hour concierge. Office space and new shops at sub mezzanine level. Whole project very expensive: c.£10m for 119 units. Other problems – allocation policies, quality of buildings, immediate surroundings, not good for families with children.
Queensbridge Trust was the spur for lots of initiatives: strong focus on training and community businesses – cleaning, minor repairs, landscaping, concierge. Winning new contracts from the landlord. Job Link by local people for local people. Sports and Community Centre with IT suite and a community café. Designed central square, secure play areas. Residents room in the tower for informal socialising.

Five towers, Camden, London

Contact: Harry Mayers, Energy Conservation and Solar Centre, Unit 325/6, 30 Great Guildford Street, London SE1 0HS
Focus: Big regeneration package for 5 towers in Camden. One of 8 DETR pilots using PFI for social housing. Private sector awarded ‘Facilities Management Contracts’ – the deal is that they undertake big capital improvement projects early on and then get to sell services to residents for the following however many years. Penalised if performance judged below par by the tenants. Testing out strength of this accountability mechanism.
This big project has descended on the residents who are now getting up to speed – or at least the two from each block who are on residents’ steering committee. Previously tenants’ activity was minor – repair issues within each block. Tenants committee has decided it wants to broaden out the agenda to take in training, employment, mothers and toddlers, etc. Only about 6 months into the process. 18 months of consultation to follow, then 3 years capital works.

Beckton, Docklands, London E6

Contact: Ian Muir, East Thames Housing Association
Focus: Tower converted into foyer and ‘move on’ accommodation for young people. Projects with community radio and cyber café.

Blakenhall, Wolverhampton.

Contact: Helen Blakey, Focus Housing
A Tower of 134 units with some big problems. HA took it over from LA, spent £3m on physical improvements, concierge, security etc. But there is no demand. Tenancies usually last 6-12 months with transient young people. Only 30% been there longer than 3 years. Means loss of rental income, arrears, voids.
Their solution: short term -reduce rents to attract low earners as opposed to benefit claimants (from £70 down to £50), and market it accordingly. Longer term as partners in ‘neighbourhood management model’ with LA , SRB, New Deal for Communities to try to turn round the area over a 5-10 year period. Tackle the tower block problem as part of a bigger regeneration effort.

Appletree Court, Salford

Contact: Betty Burton, Appletree Court, Salford

Catalyst: tenants association formed in 1988. Main purpose was social. Over the years this forum for social interaction also gave residents a forum to talk about concerns, notably repairs, maintenance and management; and they began to take more of a concerted interest in these matters and take that to the LA. By 1993 were looking at forming a tenant management company. They took the plunge on the basis that “we’d be able to sort it out ourselves instead of having to wait for the council” (i.e. repairs). 1996 teamed up with Tony Milroy of the Arid Lands Initiative and begun to transform the grounds.
Focus: TMC took responsibility for maintenance, repairs, lettings and ground maintenance. The Urban Oasis began to emerge involving successive projects in the grounds. The starting point was the erection of a fence to provide security. A café and a vandal-proof conservatory have also been built.
Resident involvement: the various projects have been at the initiative of the residents.
Supporting organisations: Arid Lands Initiative, the probation service.

Lambeth, London

Contact: Dan Blythe, Hyde Housing Association
Catalyst: Five year programme worth approximately £16 million under the Estate Renewal Challenge Fund. Residents balloted over stock transfer.
Focus: Physical improvements – security including concierge to cover three towers, new kitchens and bathrooms, central heating, windows, ventilation. London Electricity upgrading transformers. ‘Hyde Plus’ concept of support for the community involving employment and training ‘apprentice’ scheme and building a new a community centre with creche facilities.
Residents involvement: consultation.
Supporting organisations: Hyde Housing Association

Dickens House, Kilburn, London

Contact: Keith Marsh, London Electricity

Focus: Energy-saving through promoting energy awareness amongst residents. The objective is to reduce demand on the network and avoid having to upgrade cables and transformers, etc.
Residents’ involvement: Applying information gleaned from awareness-raising campaign to change their energy use habits.

Rockingham Estate, Southwark, London

Contact: Sam Teague, Chaucer Environmental Forum, c/o REPA, 10 Dickens Square, off Harper Road, London SE1 4JL
Catalyst: community visioning and Planning for Real event associated with local SRB programme. Residents expressed an interest in starting gardening, composting and recycling schemes.
Focus: composting scheme to be extended to recycling in due course. The estate is a mix of high and low rise, and when ready the compost will be available for use on people’s gardens. Two tower blocks are participating. Six large collection bins have been placed around the estate, about half of them are being used. There is also a window box project which has about 40% take up in the towers. This was promoted through the local free paper, posters and leaflets through people’s doors.
Residents’ involvement: identified the project as desirable, practical participation in implementation. One resident is cultivating a ‘do-it-yourself’ allotment plot at the base of his/her tower.
Supporting organisations: Chaucer Environmental Forum, part of Chaucer Community Regeneration Partnership.

Milton Gardens, Hackney, London

Contact: Evonne Spyrou, Finsbury Park Community Trust, Parkgate House, 306 Seven Sisters Road, London N4 2AG
A pilot recycling scheme launched by Waste Not Recycling.
Focus: doorstep collection recycling scheme covering high-rise, low-rise and street housing, the high-rise being Milton Gardens. The scheme has not been developed for various regions but has allowed the following lessons to be learned regarding recycling collections in tower blocks:
• The compact way that tower blocks are laid out makes collecting and sorting the waste easier and quicker. Being indoors is a big advantage.
• Gaining access can be a problem. Access needs to be by arrangement, and a good relationship with the caretaker is important.
• The high turnover of residents that is a feature of some tower blocks presents a major obstacle to running a recycling scheme.
• There is a danger that if the waste is not collected on the appointed day, it will be interfered with and spread around the block.
Residents’ involvement: changed habits and raised awareness.
Supporting organisations: Waste Not Recycling, London Borough of Hackney.

Wentworth Tower, Upperthorpe Estate, Sheffield

This estate has a box based door-to-door recycling scheme for the 48 unit tower block by Wastestream Systems, a non-profit recycling collection contractor. The scheme was initiated in March 1999. Research in November 1999 recorded a diversion rate of 31%. Scheme results will be compared on costs and performance basis with similar systems elsewhere in Sheffield, Newham, and Lambeth through research by the Safe neighbourhoods Unit.

The Groves, Hartcliffe, Bristol

Contact: Mr K Williams, 27 Oak House, The Groves, Hartcliffe, Bristol BS13 0RY
Catalyst: tenants association lobbied council for improvements. In response the local authority secured Estate Action funding for a five year programme to redevelop five tower blocks.
Focus: physical improvements – landscaping, cladding, windows. Tenants centre for the estate and a community room in each block
Residents’ involvement: campaigned for the improvements, represented on the interview panel that selected architects.
Supporting organisations: Bristol City Council.

Edmonton Green Estate, Haringey

Contact: Phyllidia Culpin, Green Horizons Office, South Mall, Edmonton Shopping Centre, Edmonton, London N9
Catalyst: stock transfer to housing association followed by refurbishment.
Focus: physical improvements – concierge, kitchens and bathrooms, lifts, heating. Capacity-building – community board established with membership divided in thirds between residents, the local authority, and the housing association. Training programme for tenants members including governance, business planning, and financial management.
Residents’ involvement: consulted and balloted about key issues of stock transfer and redevelopment. Preference of more elderly residents to remain in the high rise blocks led to three towers being retained (a shopping centre is housed at the bottom of the blocks).
Supporting organisations: Metropolitan Housing Association, London Borough of Haringey.

Dunbar House and William Saville House, Kilburn, London

Contact: John Drake, New Leaf, Lanmore House, 370-386 High Rd., Wembley HA9 6AX
Catalyst: approach made to residents by New Leaf, a local environmental organisation. New Leaf wanted to replicate the Salford Urban Oasis concept.
Focus: creating a community garden and mini-allotments. In the relationship between New Leaf and the residents it was acknowledged that the state of repair of the blocks was a more important issue for residents; but, presented with the opportunity, they were keen to work with New Leaf on this project to improve their grounds.
Residents’ involvement: participating in Planning for Real event, visit to Salford Urban Oasis project, interviewing landscape architects, and appointment of part-time gardener. Residents are also being offered mini-allotment plots.

St Peter’s Court, Lowestoft

Contact: Daphne Richardson, 51 St Peter’s Court, Chapel Street, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 1QH
Catalyst: tenants association already in existence. The council’s decision to cover the flat roof with a sloping roof removed the facility of somewhere to sit outside in the summer. Residents decided to do something with the grounds instead.
Focus: landscaping including raised gardens and a lawn. Other initiatives in the block include regular social activities in the community room, outings, and a weekly community shop. 102 out of 125 residents are pensioners.
Residents’ involvement: ideas and projects discussed and carried out by residents, including applying for a grant for the garden.
Supporting organisations: community projects grant from Shell Better Britain Campaign.

Blackbird Leys Estate, Oxford

Contact: Jenny Clamp, Blackbird Leys Tower Blocks Association, 38 Windrush Tower, Blackbird Leys, Oxford OX4 5HY
Catalyst: newly formed tenants association invited senior council officer to one of their meetings, the outcome being a survey of problems in the blocks. This led to action.
Focus: physical improvements – tackling asbestos, damp and condition of windows
Residents’ involvement: organising themselves into a group to campaign for improvements. The tenants’ group won a TPAS Participation into Practice Award in 1997.
Supporting organisations: Oxford City Council, TPAS.

Alder Court, Wolverhampton

Focus: refurbishment. In the mid 1990s Sanctuary Housing Association bought the tower at nil cost in return for undertaking to raise £3 million for physical improvements including cladding and a 24 hour concierge.

Northwood Tower, London Borough of Waltham Forest

Focus: physical improvements in the early 1990s including structural strengthening, new roof, combined heat and power system, controlled entry and new kitchens. Cost £5.1million. Experimented with a ‘rolling’ method of keeping most tenants in the block while refurbishment underway.
Residents’ involvement: questionnaire (showing heating and security as two prime concerns); public meetings; 10-member tenant design team consulted in detail on choices.
Supporting organisations: London Borough of Waltham Forest, Hunt Thompson Associates

Kingsbridge Court, Manchester

Contact: Michael Culver, Flat 7, Kingsbridge Court, Kingsbridge Road, Harpurhey, Manchester M9 5SW
Focus: fencing off part of the grounds and creating a barbeque area, producing a greeting pack for new tenants.
Residents’ involvement: projects are the residents’ initiative.
Supporting organisations: Manchester City Council

Platt Court and Worsley Court, Manchester

Contact: Mr G.E.Windsor, Secretary of Worsley and Platt Court Tenants’ Association, 15 Worsley Court, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5LU.
Focus: the two blocks cater for the over-55s. They have a social room which hosts regular coffee mornings and bingo. The tenants’ association organises outings. There is a high standard of security and a good caretaker. The blocks have had intensive work to improve their heating. This has entailed the installation of a group heating system, pitched roofs, and new radiators and double glazing.
Residents’ involvement: tenants association liaises with the council and organises social activities.
Supporting organisations: Manchester City Council energy-efficiency unit financed the improvements through a bid for Private Finance Initiative funding.

Artillery Court, Manchester

Contact: Hillary Hackin, 47 Artillery Court, Wadeson Road, Brunswick, Manchester M139TU
Focus: tenants are frustrated that on occasion flats are still allocated to younger people, and they are pressing the council to follow a policy of only letting flats in the block to people over 40. The council has put up a fence around the block, and residents are asking that the parking area be separated from the grounds. They have taken part in tree-planting, and individual residents are encouraging their neighbours to have plant pots on their balconies. The block is involved in a project to establish an urban orchard on the estate. It possesses a communal laundry facility in the basement.
Residents’ involvement: individuals take part in activities, but only a couple of people are involved in running the tenants association.
Supporting organisations: CTAC (Community Technical Aid Centre) and Manchester City Council.

Cundiff Court, Manchester

Contact: Mary Wolstencroft, 19 Cundiff Court, Levenshulme, Manchester M19 3HZ
Focus: the block has a community room which is the focus of social activities. Residents have created a communal garden around the base of their block. It is secure, with a fence all the way round, and has wheelchair access.
Residents’ involvement: the block caters for middle-aged to elderly people. The garden project was the resident’s initiative – they fundraised for it, and now take responsibility for its maintenance.