Creating Healthy & Sustainable Places in an Urban City Garden - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

OUR R BYKE KER, R, OUR R COMMUNIT ITY, , OUR R TENANTS. . Creating Healthy & Sustainable Places in an Urban City Garden University Health Programme Newcastle Jill Haley, Chief Executive Byker Community Trust September 2019

Byker old and new … • 2000 homes, commercial, land • Individually designed estate • Grade II* Listed • Built between 1969 - 1983 • Stock Transfer from NCC to BCT July 2012

Ralph Erskine Erskine’s vision was to build for the returning community …. • 2000 Properties • Individual design features • District Heating System • Schools and play areas • Hobby rooms • Viewing areas • Shops • Communal space • Environment - 2000 + Trees - 1200 Hedges - 75 Communal planters - 600 + Large communal plant pots (Byker Wall)

But then … Time and social politics took their toll … • Lack of investment • High density • Cost of services • Listed features v lifestyles • Over supply/vulnerability • Diverse community • Indices of deprivation • Environmental decay

Byker Community Trust Index of multiple deprivation (32,482 Super Output Areas) Social Indices Incom come 3% Employment 2% Health 1% Education, Skills & Training 3% Overall 2%

Environmental Stock Transfer Promise Car access & car parking • Pedestrian movement • Materials, maintenance & • management Refuse management & recycling • Safety & security • Sustainability • Play & recreation • Trees & landscaping •

Environmental Investment to Date Car ar A Access & & Ped edes estria ian n Mat ater eria ials, , Refu fuse Management & & Car Pa Parking ng Movem ement nt Maint aintena nanc nce & & Recyc ycling Manag anagem emen ent • £73k improvements • £2m concierge & • Working with NCC to security upgrade to 655 • Enclosure to 2 stilt •NCC responsible for improve waste properties blocks the bi annual management in Byker. • Agreement with NCC for • £6k boundary rail inspection & • New communal bin areas inspection & treatment to the grassed maintenance of for 2 sheltered maintenance of area at Dunn Terrace accommodation blocks. unadopted highways adopted roads & • 3 pilot communal bin • Grounds maintenance & footpaths. areas environmental response service by BCT (14 Tenant Inspectors)

Environmental Investment to Date Safety & ty & Sustai aina nabi bility Trees es & & Security ty Play & Pl & Landscap Land aping ng Invested £81k in - Invested £812k option installing photovoltaics Recreati tion appraisal & phase 1 to the roof of the Byker - Tree works carried out by delivery converting 10 Wall. trained arbour staff in our To be considered as hobby rooms into new grounds maintenance homes. 1 megawatt Biomass part of the main team. Boiler & 1 megawatt scheme. - 5 play areas improved - Detailed tree survey CHP plant to District since July 2012. completed. (Estimated value of these Heating System. works £5928)

Environmental Upgrade & Consultation • ‘ Your Byker Future, Official Offer Document’ • December 2018 - Appointment of JDDK to deliver design services • February 2019 – Stakeholder & Community Engagement programme • £3.4m Environmental spend to date - £10.3m shopping list - £3.6m budget

Stakeholder & Community Engagement Investigating the issues & understanding the investment priorities Collected views from circa 1000 residents

Stakeholder & Community Engagement Placechangers Online Platform Placechangers online platform 491 comments (approx.100 by design team) Street stalls, walkabouts & playground stalls 284 residents Engagement Results Formal engagement sessions 90 residents Comment cards 97 residents

Findings & recommended approach for delivery Community Priorities Stakeholder Priorities Recommendations

Waste Management As part of this project, the following should be reviewed Increase communal bin usage across the • Estate Resize in garden bin stores to suit wheelie • bins Enclosures around bin stores improving • aesthetic appearance Recycling (inc. more provision & education) • More litter bins placed at strategic locations, • parks, bus stops, greens

Tree Management As part of this project the following should be reviewed Number of inappropriately sized & located • trees affecting quality of spaces & properties Density of trees & affect on natural • daylight in communal spaces & homes Diversity of species • Replacing trees with fruit trees •

Raby Street Improvements As part of this project the following should be reviewed A focus on Raby Street to tackle fear of • crime & personal safety perceptions Address the kerb appeal of what is the • most prominent entrance way into the Byker Estate, & the main thoroughfare from Byker metro station & Shields Road

Soft Landscaping As part of this project the following should be reviewed • Hedging • Flower habitat • Tree replanting including fruit trees • Allotments, planters & food production

Safe Play Spaces Safe play & youth diversionary activity should review Consideration of shared / semi private • gardens enclosures New central play provision (e.g. astro turf • multi purpose pitch, skate park etc) Property fencing heights & secure play • space

Garden Fencing Improving the kerb appeal should review Addressing fencing uniformity & residents • need for privacy / security to their gardens Consider reduction in painted fencing in • non-prominent locations to reduce maintenance, promoting pre-treated timbers, unpainted or alternative materials

Welcoming Gateways into the Estate Entrances into the Estate from outside the Byker Wall were seen negatively during the consultation process. Targeted investment to these areas will enhance the aesthetics to improve the perception of pedestrian safety & create welcoming gateways into the Byker Estate.

Recommendations

Delivering Estate Wide Transformation

Garden City Principles Strong vision, leadership and community engagement • Land value capture for the benefit of the community • Community ownership of land and long-term stewardship of assets • Mixed-tenure homes and housing types that are affordable for ordinary people • Beautiful and imaginatively designed homes with gardens in healthy communities • A strong local jobs offer in the Garden City itself and within easy commuting • distance Opportunities for residents to grow their own food, including allotments • Generous green space, including: surrounding belt of countryside to prevent • unplanned sprawl; well connected and biodiversity-rich public parks; high quality gardens; tree-lined streets; and open spaces Strong cultural, recreational and shopping facilities in walkable neighbourhoods • Integrated and accessible transport systems •

What principles are missing… Physical location/stigma • Connectivity Solar So • Education & training opportunities Pa Panels • Ability to adapt to future challenges • Age friendly spaces for all • Retail & leisure mix • Sustainable neighbourhood/heat/power provision • Dis istrict Heatin ing

Start with the end in mind… Who will live here & why? • For how long? • Population movement plan also in economical context • What do immediate & future prospects look like (0 – 50 years) • Is the neighbourhood self generative & is this future proof? • How resilient will people be to political & public policy changes? • What reliance will they have on local authority services? • It It’s ’s a about ut Pe People an and Pl Plac ace!

Key message… Before moving on to shiny new things … Set a vision for all citizens to have - A healthy life - Free from hunger & poverty - Equal opportunities to education, training & employment

Questions?