annual report 2007/08
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urbanliving annual report 07/08
contents chairman’s report
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introducing urban living
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strategy & programme priorities
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achievements 2007/08
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performance
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financial overview
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delivery board members
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Capturing the vibrancy of the area Renowned Handsworth photographer, Vanley Burke, has been commissioned by Urban Living to document life in the Pathfinder neighbourhoods. A number of his captivating photographs, which reflect the vibrancy and diversity of life in the area, are featured in this annual report. Vanley himself is particularly interested in looking at the social and living conditions of longstanding residents, seeing how new arrivals to the area will use space and the impact this will have on design and architecture. Vanley’s images are featured on pages 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, 21, 22 and 26. Left: View of streets in North West Birmingham. urbanliving annual report 07/08
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chairman’s report Urban Living has not been in the habit of showing off. In the past, perhaps, this was for good reason: despite achieving its targets, the programme struggled to find its focus. But now we have a great deal to shout about. The Urban Living team has achieved astonishing results. This year 5% of the 60,000 homes in the Urban Living area have benefited from our support. The importance of people and community relationships has been recognised and honoured in our wider programme of activities. And the organisation itself has emerged from issues identified by the Audit Commission, stronger, more focused and more connected to the people we serve. As a result, following a visit from Iain Wright MP, Junior Housing & Planning Minister, the government allocated £53 million to our continued work for the next three years. This investment will help bring into the area in excess of approximately £400 million from other public and private funds. We cannot be sure how the shaky economic outlook will affect our local economy
Urban Living’s Vision is:
and communities. The Urban Living area continues to be challenging, complex and, in significant parts, disadvantaged. But the area is more vibrant, more cosmopolitan,
“…to create a vibrant and
more varied than ever before. The people who live here are helping to determine,
sustainable housing market
through the masterplanning process, how this vitality can be channeled to make this
characterised by a thriving
an even better place to live. Through a range of projects, we are helping local school children, artists, community groups, and employers express what is unique about their neighbourhoods, and how those places should develop.
economy, cohesive communities and an appropriate range of high
Urban Living works with and through the people of the area and partner
quality neighbourhoods.”
organisations, particularly Birmingham and Sandwell Councils. If we succeed, it is because they succeed. If we do our work well, we go largely unnoticed. This is as it should be. But we should also celebrate that something special is happening here! Peter Latchford, Chairman
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introducing urbanliving Urban Living is a Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder set up by central Government to tackle the range of problems that affect local people – overcrowding, lack of housing choice, empty properties and run-down neighbourhoods. The Urban Living area has a very ethnically diverse population. It includes 150,000 people and 60,000 homes in North West Birmingham and parts of Sandwell. The area extends from the edge of Birmingham City Centre northwest towards Sandwell and includes Aston, Newtown, Lozells, Winson Green, Handsworth, Smethwick, West Bromwich and Greets Green.
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strategy & programme priorities Characteristics of the area The Pathfinder area has a number of characteristics: ■
In order to achieve its vision
there is a shortage of large homes. ■
Urban Living has set five Strategic Objectives. They are: ■
■
transient. ■
programmes connect with the regeneration of defined local commercial centres. ■
Choice – promoting and providing a range of high quality and affordable housing choices that lead to the development of mixed communities.
■
Quality – transforming the quality of housing and neighbourhoods throughout the Urban Living area.
■
sectors.
Connectivity – re-balancing the complementary economic and social
Image – making the Urban Living area a safe, convenient and popular place to live, work and invest.
In addition, rising house prices and low incomes have resulted in serious overcrowding and an increased demand in the social and private rented
Urban Living area. housing market and ensuring that
For many years it has acted as a ‘reception area’ for a variety of newcomers to the wider Birmingham conurbation – therefore the population can be
accommodated and retained in the ■
It suffers from severe and persistent levels of multiple deprivation. Symptoms include: high levels of crime, worklessness and poor quality environments.
Growth – ensuring that the majority of household growth can be
Much of its housing fails to meet the needs of the local population and
In summary, the Urban Living area now has rapidly increasing numbers of low income households. It has moved on from being a place of low prices and depopulation to one of high demand and rising prices. Furthermore, it has been forecast that an additional 8,400 households will need to be accommodated in the Pathfinder area by 2021. Without intervention it will mean that only 1,075 more homes will be provided. This would result in: ■
further overcrowding;
■
people with means potentially leaving the area; and
■
a shortage of housing supply, which could push house prices up and further increase the problems of affordability.
This unique set of challenges for Urban Living and its partners has led to a focus on three key issues: achieving housing growth, addressing affordability (and economic impacts), and increasing community cohesion and respect.
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strategy & programme priorities continued
With the ‘credit crunch’ making its presence felt, Urban Living has been looking carefully at its strategy to ensure that it continues to make positive interventions in the Pathfinder area. The Delivery Board will consider changes to the programme as a consequence of the changed economic climate. In the meantime, the programme is as set out below.
Programme With £53 million of Government funding awarded, in the three years up to 2011 Urban Living aims to: ■
Create 2,085 homes
■
Improve 448 homes
■
Buy 202 properties
■
Demolish 159 properties
■
Acquire 17 hectares of land for redevelopment (enough to build 700 new homes)
Working together Improving housing is not enough. We’re also working with a range of partners and the local community to stimulate employment, improve life chances and create attractive and cohesive neighbourhoods – places where people choose to live, work and play.
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Our unique challenge Local people give the area its distinctive character. The local population is one of the most diverse in the UK and has widened further with the recent arrival of workers from Eastern Europe. Our challenge is to understand and accommodate the varying needs of such a diverse community and foster a sense of community life, pride and harmony. This is why community cohesion is at the heart of everything we do.
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achievements 2007/08 During the year, significant progress was made not only on delivery of a £29.21 million programme but also on taking forward Urban Living’s strategy, with a Business Plan submitted to Government followed by confirmation of a further £53 million funding for three years to 2011. Major strides have been made in Urban Living’s organisational development. The team has been expanded and, by working in collaboration with RegenWM, the capacity of the organisation has been enhanced through skills training, learning opportunities and visits to examples of 'best practice'. A range of key strategies and policies have been developed and are now being implemented, alongside which an already extensive data and research base has been added to. This year also saw the Community Cohesion and the Respect agendas roll out with successful delivery of programmes on the ground. This has resulted in Urban Living’s positive progress being recognised externally by stakeholders. Once again, Urban Living surpassed all targets set on its ambitious physical programme. This focused on masterplanning, the removal of some unpopular housing, the acquisition of land and buildings for future redevelopment, the refurbishment of older properties and environmental improvements to neighbourhoods. All this activity has solidified the foundations upon which Urban Living and its partners can accelerate the pace of change and positively Resident consultation in progress.
rebalance the housing market.
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achievements 2007/08 continued
Masterplanning Masterplanning is an important step on the road to regenerating any area. This work helps to guide and map out any new development by looking at a local area and considering its physical, economic, cultural and social context. Urban Living has funded a range of masterplans mostly focused in North West Birmingham, specifically: South Aston Partners: Aston Pride and Birmingham City Council Newtown Partners: Birmingham City Council North Lozells North Lozells Masterplan: (above) view of typical street and (below) view of how it could be transformed.
Partners: Midland Heart Housing Association and Birmingham City Council Urban Living has also commissioned a Neighbourhood Plan for South Lozells and a Spatial Strategy for a large area at the centre of the Pathfinder currently known as the Western Growth Corridor. The aim of these is to set out a range of options for how areas could improve in the future. Proposals will set out alternative uses for land and buildings, along with improvements to facilities, housing, streetscapes and open spaces. All will be subject to further community consultation.
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Acquisition and clearance Urban Living has continued to clear obsolete buildings and acquire land and major sites to enable future regeneration. In total, 167 properties were purchased and 4.5 hectares of land acquired (enough to build around 225 homes) in key locations including Greets Green where 77 properties were acquired and 55 demolished. This has brought the total number of strategic sites and properties acquired since 2004 to 1,608. Key strategic buildings acquired for redevelopment or alternative use include: Stanhope Laundry site in Smethwick – the 0.72 hectare site has been cleared to make way for future residential redevelopment. Crocodile works in Newtown, Birmingham – the 7 last units on the former industrial estate have been demolished to make way for the development of a
Above: Stanhope Laundry site, Smethwick. Below: Quaker site, Lozells.
range of new homes. Quaker site in Lozells, Birmingham – derelict for 25 years and creating blight in the area, the former tennis courts site may be redeveloped into a residential development of around 11 homes. The Groundwork building in Handsworth, Birmingham – the Grade II listed Victorian building and former Bank will be revamped for community or neighbourhood use. In addition, Urban Living purchased seven empty Victorian properties in Handsworth with a view to them being completely refurbished and brought back into use through sales on the open market.
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achievements 2007/08 continued
New and refurbished homes Urban Living once again exceeded its refurbishment target during the year by improving 2,262 properties (against a target of 1,498) and building or converting a further 36. Key elements of this programme included the installation of solar panels to 77 owner occupier properties in the Summerfield area (Birmingham) and start on the de-conversion of 5 Victorian properties, to high eco-standards, to be made available to larger families. Above: Large flatted Victorian properties in Radnor Road, Handsworth, are being converted back into large family homes. Below: Solar panels have been installed to 77 properties in the Summerfield Eco Neighbourhood.
The extensive eco-regeneration being undertaken in this neighbourhood has led the Summerfield area to be known as Birmingham’s first ‘Eco Neighbourhood’. This is largely thanks to the partnership between Urban Living, Birmingham City Council and Family Housing Association.
Eco Radio Project Launched in May 2007, the Eco Radio project results from a partnership between Urban Living, Birmingham City Council Housing in Education and Family Housing. It raised awareness of environmental issues and promoted the benefits of saving energy to 900 pupils from five schools in North West Birmingham. The project included: development of an eco web site and podcasting radio station, creation of an Eco Songs CD and wokshops on energy efficiency. Visit www.eco-radio.co.uk
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A further de-conversion scheme started this year in partnership with Midland Heart involving the transformation of flatted, Victorian properties in the Radnor Road area of Handsworth into much-needed large family homes.
Improved environment A substantial part of this year’s physical improvement programme has focused on enhancing streetscapes and external features (such as boundary walls and fencing). The aim of this work is not only to improve the look and lift the image of areas, but also to instil resident pride in neighbourhoods in anticipation of longer-term regeneration taking place. Major works were carried out in Lozells where 702 properties benefited from external improvements, and ‘City Canalside’ in the North Summerfield / Winson Green area of Birmingham, where work was carried out to 454 homes.
Urban Living has funded the extensive improvement to external features (walls, fencing, gates etc) and street scapes in areas such as North Summerfield (above) and (below) Lozells, Birmingham.
In the Loop 150 pupils from primary schools in North West Birmingham designed their own mini loop shapes inspired by the Icknield Port Loop part of the canal network. A large, mobile stainless steel 'loop' structure was also produced and toured neighbouring areas to give residents a chance to comment. The intention is to produce a permanent ‘Loop’ piece to be incorporated in the future regeneration of the 'City Canalside' area.
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achievements 2007/08 continued
Community safety programmes As part of the Community Safety and Respect programme, Urban Living has supported two initiatives to reduce crime, fear of crime, anti-social behaviour and promote greater community confidence. The schemes: Handsworth, Birmingham: in partnership with Midland Heart 714 properties received security measures and CCTV cameras were installed in the Radnor Road area.
Above: CCTV has been installed in the Radnor Road area of Handsworth as part of an Urban Living funded Community Safety programme. Below: Community Cohesion Stakeholder event.
Smethwick and West Bromwich, Sandwell: a partnership made up of Sandwell MBC, West Midlands Police, community organisations and other agencies led to 700 properties receiving security features. In addition, 74 residents received work experience through a Safer Garden scheme, with 12 then gaining full time employment.
Community cohesion and engagement One of the key features of the Urban Living area is that it is has a high concentration of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups – currently 70% of the population and expected to rise by 11.5% by 2021. For this reason, Community Cohesion and engagement is at the heart of Urban Living’s programme with delivery partners having to consider and state their approach to community engagement and cohesion from the outset. Examples of specific community cohesion projects undertaken during the year, include: ■
Hosting a well received Community Cohesion Stakeholder event in
■
Supporting the setting up of a Kurdish newspaper.
December 2007.
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■
Conducting a leadership course for residents.
■
Supporting newly arrived groups with the installation of IT equipment at
■
Commissioning Handsworth art photographer Vanley Burke to capture
■
Supporting the Bangladeshi Youth Forum (BYF) to undertake youth activities
■
Supporting local community theatre company Banner Theatre to enable
a refugee centre. the distinct character of the Pathfinder area and its people. to bring young people together and promote community harmony. them to carry out research on new arrivals in preparation of their next play ‘The Video Balance’ due to go on tour next year. ■
Sponsoring two residents to attend the prestigious Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) Summer School.
In addition to the above, extensive consultation has been undertaken with residents through a range of masterplans.
Above: Suzanne Bisani, from the Birmingham New Communities Network, uses new Urban Living funded equipment installed at a Handsworth-based refugee centre. Below: Nargis Begum attends a residents leadership course.
Promoting community harmony Urban Living supported the Bangladeshi Youth Forum based in Lozells to deliver a series of youth activities and workshops to promote better cross-cultural and cross-area understanding and promote community harmony. Activities included football, cricket, pool, badminton, along with workshops on anti-social behaviour and the dangers of gun crime.
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achievements 2007/08 continued
Research The original Evidence Base (January 2004) and subsequent research provides the justification for many of the Pathfinder’s policy, strategy and programme decisions. However, a review of the evidence base in Summer 2007 and discussions with partners highlighted the need for some additional research. This resulted in a number of studies being commissioned and/or completed, notably a Review of the Evidence Base and a Heritage Assessment. Other key research included a study on Housing Market change, a review of the Private Above: Masterplanning consulation in Aston, Birmingham. Below: Lozells resident and father of two Devone Johnson lands a job installing solar panels thanks to a pilot Employment and Skills training programme set up in partnership with Sandwell MBC.
Rented Sector and a New Build survey. The results of the research are shared with partners to help them develop their policies, strategies and programmes. This is available on our website at www.urbanliving.org.uk
Employment and skills training scheme A Pathfinder-wide pilot Employment and Skills training programme was set up this year in partnership with Sandwell MBC to ensure that residents living in the Urban Living area are able to capitalise on the many job and training opportunities that arise through the Pathfinder programme. This resulted in 40 residents gaining employment. The programme has since been mainstreamed with each scheme commissioned expected to lead to a number of jobs and training places.
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performance We exceeded all our Government set targets during the year. The figures below show that since the
Measure
DCLG Target 31 March 2008
Actual 2007/08
programme started:
8,905 homes have been refurbished or repaired
1,608 homes have been acquired to
Homes constructed or converted: Homes refurbished, repaired or otherwise improved:
Variance against DCLG target
30
36
+6
1,498
2,262
+764
facilitate redevelopment
Properties acquired for Pathfinder services:
146
167
+21
197
of which private housing
111
132
+21
of which social housing
35
35
0
Properties and homes demolished:
88
207
+119
of which private housing
88
88
0
of which social housing
0
119
+119
Hectares of land acquired
0
4.5
+4.5
Number of homes subject to additional management measures
0
958
+958
Number of commercial properties acquired
0
2
+2
homes have been built
644 properties have been demolished
10,879 homes have been subject to environmental works
15,703 homes have been subject to additional management measures
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financial overview The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) allocated £29.21 million to fund interventions in the Pathfinder area during 2007/08. Urban Living successfully drew down all of the grant to fund a range of projects and activities aimed at regenerating the housing market and benefitting the local community.
Expenditure 2007/08
Match & Complementary Funding
Annual Budget Actual to 2007/08 31 Mar 2008 £000 £000
Project Expenditure
Variance Match & Complementary
£000
£000
26,210
26,429
219
Employee Costs
1,348
1,437
89
Sandwell MBC Area
2,380
Premises Costs
204
279
75
Birmingham City Council Area
3,000
SLA’s/LA support
935
474
-461
English Partnership*
7,900
Running Costs
513
591
78
Housing Corporation*
2,800
29,210
29,210
0
Private Development*
32,000
Grand Total
Urban Living
RSL* Non-HMRA Local Authority spend in the area*
29,210
3,800 49,500 130,590
*Figures estimated and currently being verified.
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Analysis of spend Project / Element
2007/08 Revised Programme
Spend as at Year End
Lozells
£4,922,864
4,923,806
Newtown
£1,141,888
1,098,309
£258,300
206,458
£2,996,305
2,988,631
Birchfield Gateway
£200,000
210,768
Soho
£222,000
222,000
£48,500
48,500
£770,160
770,160
£11,503,000
11,634,834
£807,400
816,531
Growth Corridor Acquisitions
£1,355,714
1,355,714
Eastern Gateway
Eastern Gateway
£1,034,475
1,049,845
Eco Pilot Project
Eco Pilot Project
£703,900
703,900
Masterplanning
£392,163
399,240
£2,853,331
2,781,305
£29,210,000
£29,210,000
East Aston City Canalside
Hockley Spring Hill Voids into use Greets Green Community Safety
Lozells Newtown East Aston City Canalside Birchfield Gateway Soho Hockley Spring Hill Voids into use Greets Green Community Safety Growth Corridor Acquisitions
Masterplanning
Infrastructure Total Programme Value
Infrastructure
Project spend by intervention Project Spend by Intervention Type 2007-08
17,455,877
17,563,101
Site Development
Site Assembly
1,747,000
1,695,064
Improvement to Houses
5,683,729
5,684,260
Masterplanning
614,163
621,240
Supporting Communities
855,900
865,031
2,853,331
2,781,305
29,210,000
29,210,000
Infrastructure
Site Assembly Site Development Improvement to Houses Masterplanning Supporting Communities Infrastructure
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delivery board members Peter Latchford Chair
Councillor John Lines Cabinet Member for Housing, Birmingham City Council
Councillor Bob Badham
If you require any assistance in understanding the information please ask a friend or a relative who can speak English to call us on 0121 565 6540. Bengali
Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Transport, Sandwell MBC
Elaine Elkington Acting Strategic Director Housing and Constituencies for Birmingham City Council
Gujarati
Steve Gregory Executive Director, Urban Regeneration, Sandwell MBC
Peter Jones Head of Investment, Housing Corporation (West Midlands)
Peter Murray / David Rhead
Punjabi
Area Director West Midlands / Senior Regeneration Manager, English Partnerships
Jim Shaw Black Country Partnership Manager, Advantage West Midlands
Arabic
John Clements Executive Director, Aston Pride New Deal for Communities
Jean Templeton Birmingham City Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) representative & Chief Executive, St Basil’s
Urdu
Sandra Spence Sandwell Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) representative & Chief Executive, Black Country Housing Association
Laurice Ponting Chair, RSL Consortium / Chief Executive, Mercian Housing Members who joined after March 2008 Cllr Simon Hackett, Sandwell MBC – Replaced Cllr Bob Badham in June 2008 Christine Seaton, Housing Corporation – Replaced Peter Jones in June 2008 Andrew James, Advantage WM – Replaced Jim Shaw in June 2008
Somali
Hadddii aad u baahantahay in lagaa kaalmeyo sidii aad u fahmto macluumaadka ku yaala qoraalkan akhbaarta, weydii saaxiib ama qaraabo, ku hadla afka ingriiska, inuu naga soo waco taleefan lambarka; 0121 565 6540.
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T: 0121 565 6540 F: 0121 555 8364 E: info@urbanliving.org.uk W: www.urbanliving.org.uk
Published: July 2008
4th Floor, Hawthorns House, Halfords Lane, Smethwick B66 1BB