A Social Sustainability Report Commissioned by the Berkeley Group Foreword

A social sustainability report commissioned by the Berkeley Group Foreword

The importance of place-making is now You have to deliver on both to create widely acknowledged by the house- a strong new community. building industry. It wasn’t always this In practice, this means looking at way. But the quality of housing design estate management in an increasingly has improved signiﬁcantly and people sophisticated way. It involves recognise you have to address social developers working in partnership and economic issues, as well as the with housing associations and local buildings and spaces, if you want to authorities to put in place the right create fantastic places. funding and structures. It means The idea of place-keeping, however, ﬁnding new ways to bring people often remains an after-thought. together and actively involving We have focused much less on how residents in decisions about how these new communities are going places are managed in the long-term. to be managed and maintained What this research at the Royal Arsenal and how residents should be involved shows is that the same care, attention if these places are going to thrive. and investment now given to place- The last time Britain built more making needs to be brought to thinking than 200,000 homes a year back about the idea of place-keeping. in the Sixties and Seventies, these communities ultimately failed because of management and maintenance, as much as design. So we need to start thinking about place-making and place-keeping Tony Pidgley, CBE as two elements of the same process. Chairman, the Berkeley Group Contents

‘We need to start thinking Foreword 03 Executive summary 07 about place-making and What do residents think about Royal Arsenal Riverside? 08 What did we learn from the research? 12 place-keeping as two elements Social sustainability rating 13 1. Introduction 15 of the same process. You 2. Research framework and methods 17 2.1 What is social sustainability? 17 have to deliver on both to create 2.2 Benchmarking the research findings 18 3. Research findings 21 3.1 Resident survey: who did we interview? 21 a strong new community.’ 3.2 Social and cultural life 24 3.3 Voice and influence 31 3.4 Amenities and social infrastructure 33 3.5 Quality of life 38 3.6 Facilities residents would like to see 38

4. Contextual interviews 43 4.1 Neighbourliness and community spirit 43 4.2 Community cohesion 44 4.3 Prosperity of the area 44 4.4 Community voice and action 45 4.5 Built environment and design 46 4.6 Safety 46 4.7 Children 46

5. Visitors to Royal Arsenal Riverside 49 5.1 Visitor survey: who did we interview? 49 5.2 How often do they visit? 51

6. Key insights and opportunities 55

About this project 58

4 5 Executive Summary

This report describes the ﬁndings of a research project exploring community strength and quality of life at Royal Arsenal Riverside in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, south London. Berkeley Homes, the developer of Royal Arsenal, commissioned this work to understand what life is like for new residents and to understand how to support the community as it develops.

Royal Arsenal is a large-scale, new suburban community. It is currently one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects and has been planned to transform a derelict industrial munitions site into a new mixed-tenure, mixed-used community. Over 30 years 5000 homes, cafés, bars, shops, restaurants, health facilities, ofﬁces and a new park will be created at Royal Arsenal.

The research involved a household survey, a site survey, and a number of in-depth, one-to-one interviews. The household survey results were benchmarked against data from four national, government surveys to assess the experience of Royal Arsenal residents against that of people living in comparable places.

6 7 226 residents (11% of the current population) were • The majority of residents plan to live at Royal Arsenal interviewed in February 2014. A quota sampling method for a number of years to come: 75% of people living in was used to reﬂect the overall proportion of private and privately owned or rented properties and 71% of people affordable households at Royal Arsenal. 151 people lived in living in affordable properties. private housing (67%), 72 in affordable housing (32%), and three (1%) identiﬁed themselves as other. ‘Residents feel that people from different backgrounds get along well but levels of neighbourliness are much lower A visitor survey was also commissioned as part of this than the benchmark.’ project to understand more about how non-residents use Royal Arsenal and feel about the place and the facilities. • 89% of people agree that people from different backgrounds get along but less than half the respondents What do residents think about Royal Arsenal? felt they could ask someone from their neighbourhood for advice (45% private and 42% affordable, 44% overall). ‘Here I can have my London life, my city commute, • 49% of affordable and 39% of private residents said they but also village life.’ spoke regularly to neighbours.

Residents at Royal Arsenal report high levels of happiness, ‘It’s safe compared to the rest of Woolwich and London.’ belonging, and trust in their neighbours. They feel that where they live makes a positive contribution to their sense of identity and intend to live in the neighbourhood for a number of years. People feel safe at Royal Arsenal but less so in the surrounding neighbourhoods: • 93% of residents describe themselves as happy, which is higher than the average for London (87%) and the UK (88%). • 88% of residents feel safe at Royal Arsenal after dark but only 68% feel safe after dark in the surrounding • Overall 74% of residents feel that where they live is neighbourhoods. This difference is less marked during the important to their sense of identity. This ﬁgure was much day: 98% of residents feel safe at Royal Arsenal during the higher for residents living in affordable housing (90%). day compared to 94% in the surrounding neighbourhoods.

• 66% of residents say they feel like they belong to the • Residents are willing to work with other people to neighbourhood compared to 62% for London and 48% for improve the neighbourhood but only 40% feel they can comparable areas. inﬂuence local decision-making.

8 9 ‘It has changed the reputation of the area. People come and • Most residents are aged between 26 and 45. Fifty percent say “I’ve never seen a building like this”.’ of people in private households and 40% in affordable households are aged between 26-35. Overall, the majority of residents, visitors and people working 17% of respondents from private households were aged in the area who took part in the research felt that Royal • under 25. Arsenal has made a positive contribution to the wider area.

• 66% of all private households are privately rented. This • Residents and visitors place a high value on the quality reﬂects the overall growth of the private rented sector, of the built and natural environment at Royal Arsenal. which overtook the social rented sector in 2012-2013 to In particular, the riverside location and mix of heritage become the second largest tenure group in England.1 buildings and modern architecture create a unique setting.

• People living in private rented homes were as likely to feel • People recognise that the Royal Arsenal has helped to change happy and report that the local area was a place where the reputation of the area and has put Woolwich ‘on the map’. people from different backgrounds get along, however, they

• Improved transport links and the future Crossrail link are were less likely than other tenure groups to stop and speak acknowledged to be a lasting legacy of the development. to neighbours or borrow things and exchange favours.

• The built environment will continue to evolve but is In-depth interviews revealed that some residents felt that already highly rated, with a wide range of community people from different tenure types were disconnected and not facilities including shops, a pub, restaurants, health sufﬁciently integrated creating an us and them feel. Others centre, dentist and nursery. were concerned that Royal Arsenal is cut off from the rest of Woolwich. Not all interviewees shared this feeling; others • The site has become a destination for residents and the thought that diversity of tenures and people from different wider community. backgrounds created a cosmopolitan community, where people were mutually respectful. Beresford Street (the dual carriage ‘The number of children is very low. Typically, it’s young way) and the wall around the development create physical urban professionals.’ barriers between Royal Arsenal and Woolwich, and are seen to symbolise the social and economic gap between residents. Royal Arsenal has a young population and a large number of households in the private rented sector. 1 Issue 10: English Housing Survey Bulletin, February 2014

10 11 What did we learn from the research? Social sustainability rating

The experience of the Royal Arsenal residents highlights This wheel diagram indicates how Royal Arsenal performs three key issues that a new approach to community against the 13 social sustainability criteria and provides management could address: an overall rating for the development. Seven of the 13 criteria receive a positive rating, mostly in the amenities • First, expanding and re-designing estate management and infrastructure dimension, which reﬂect the services to encompass community development development’s high quality built and natural environment. functions. There is value in exploring a new hybrid The other six criteria are rated as satisfactory. ‘Community Concierge’ role that might integrate the skills of community development with the functions of estate management.

CO • Second, having different housing management E Y R M U S M O arrangements for different tenures is both logical T TRANSPOR C U C NI DENTIT I U I A R TY and problematic. It is impractical to suggest they L RS L T SP A S CA could be streamlined into one system for everyone. A T N AC LO R DI L INKS D F ST But there is scope for closer integration. This would IN E C C N TIVE CH I U WITH NEIGHBOU often support a stronger sense of inclusion and the G L D A IN RA BE T NKS N CT WELL U kind of innovations seen at the Royal Arsenal where E LI A R R

LOCA A S L INTEG

residents can opt-in to additional services are well RATION

FEELIN L

worth developing. T I I GS O

F SAFE F

N T TY

U E E YO LA ABIL LO

• Third, experience at the Royal Arsenal suggests we M STREET E

T CA A AC L IT F need to think through how residents inﬂuence the AC A Y TO CI BLE SP LI management of public and open space in new TA TO TIE AP IN S AD communities. This has been a recurring theme of FL UE

Berkeley’s social sustainability assessments. It can N CE

WILLINGNESS be a cause of frustration. But done well, it brings people Positive V O C E together and allows residents to take responsibility Satisfactory I C E E N A N D I N F L U for the place where they live. Negative

12 13 1.0 Introduction

oyal Arsenal Riverside is outside areas are landscaped with a £1.5 billion mixed-use lawns and paving. regeneration scheme But the journey is only half way in Woolwich, south east complete. When it is finished London. Once a 300-year around 2030, this development Rold munitions site, it has now been will provide a total of 5,000 homes, decontaminated and re-developed alongside a hotel, shops and into a vibrant neighbourhood where commercial work spaces. 2,000 households already live. Twenty years ago, this site was derelict and isolated. Now it is fast becoming What has been delivered so far? one of the best connected places to 1,992 homes (1,364 private and 628 live in this part of London. Crossrail • affordable – 46% of the first phases) will soon take commuters to Bond Street in twenty minutes, adding to the • 500,000 sq. ft. of retail, leisure, transport options already provided by community, office and light the Thames Clipper and Docklands industrial space Light Railway services. • 18 Grade II listed buildings restored The Royal Arsenal has undergone 3,000 construction jobs created huge physical transformation. A • disused brownfield site is today a • Over 1,000 permanent jobs created beautiful, enjoyable location, home £15.5 million invested in the to restored and refurbished Georgian • community through Section 106 listed buildings. Bold contemporary apartment blocks sit alongside a • The below ground infrastructure for café, gastro pub and restaurant. The a Crossrail station

‘Twenty years ago, this site was derelict and isolated. Now it is fast becoming one of the best connected places to live in this part of London.’

14 15 2.0 Research framework and methods

2.1 quality of life and wellbeing are related What is social to the built environment, for example: sustainability? • ‘Physical factors’ include decent and affordable housing, access The Berkeley Group’s innovative to opportunities, high quality social sustainability framework public services, good quality and has been designed to explore and sustainable public realm, good measure people’s quality of life and transport connections. the strength of community on new ‘Non-physical factors’ encompass housing developments. Social Life • safety, local social networks, social and Professor Tim Dixon from Reading inclusion and spatial integration, University developed the framework cultural heritage, a sense of belonging for the Berkeley Group in 2012.2 and identity, and wellbeing.3 The framework assesses a wide range The Berkeley Group framework pays of factors that are known to influence particular attention to how residents local quality of life and the strength of describe their quality of life, feelings of a community. It contains 13 different safety, satisfaction with local amenities criteria that combine the results of 45 like shops and public transport, and questions to measure three dimensions their views on the strength of the of social sustainability: social and community. The criteria in the social cultural life, voice and influence, and cultural life and voice and influence and amenities and social infrastructure. dimensions are measured through The framework is grounded in an independent resident survey. The academic research about social criteria in the amenities and social sustainability (as one of the three pillars infrastructure dimension are measured of sustainable development) and how through an independent site survey.

2 Full details about the criteria and how the framework 3 N Dempsey, G Bramley, S Power and C Brown: ‘The was developed and tested can be found in Creating social dimension of sustainable development: deﬁning Strong Communities urban social sustainability’. Sustainable Development, 2011, Vol. 19 (5), 289-300

16 17 2.2 the social sustainability assessment. A RAG (red-amber-green) rating system Comparable area benchmarks for Royal Arsenal Riverside Benchmarking the is used to provide a simple graphic research ﬁndings representation of the results of the This chart shows how the responses from the Royal Arsenal residents survey compare resident and site surveys and to show to responses you would expect areas with similar socio-economic characteristics the results for all the criteria. Green

An important part of Berkeley’s indicates a positive result, meaning Talked to / written to a sporting or cultural facility social sustainability framework is the resident survey responses are more People in this neighbourhood pull together to improve the neighbourhood ability to ‘benchmark’ residents’ positive than the comparable area experience against that of similar people benchmarks; amber is a satisfactory Joined a local group or attended a neighbourhood forum t living in similar places. This is done by result in line with what would be I would be willing to work with others to improve my neighbourhood s to ac comparing the results of the resident expected for a comparable place; and Helped organise a petition survey at Royal Arsenal to responses red a negative response, lower than gnes llin Contacted the council from national government surveys, would be expected. The site survey Wi which are matched to local areas using data is assigned a RAG rating based on Contacted a local radio station, TV station or paper the Ofﬁce of National Statistics Output a scoring system established by CABE Contacted a local councillor or MP

Area Classiﬁcation (OAC) methodology. and the Home Builders’ Federation for Attended a protest meeting or joined a campaign group the Building for Life criteria. OAC provides a detailed, Satisfaction with local area as a place to live socio-demographic g Satisfaction with your life overall ein b

proﬁle of small ll Felt you were playing a useful part in things geographic areas, Berkeley Group social We which means we can sustainability framework Been feeling reasonably happy

make a meaningful ty Plan to remain resident of this neighbourhood for a number of years

comparison between enti Importance of where you live to sense of who you are l id

the responses that ca CO

Y E Lo Feel like I belong to this neighbourhood R M Berkeley residents U S M O T TRANSPOR C U C This local area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well NI report and the DENTIT I U I A R TY L RS L T responses of OAC S SP A CA Overall trust in people A T N AC L LO R DI D sub-groups for ST INKS hbours F IN E If I needed advice I could go to someone in my neighbourhood C C N TIVE CH I U areas with similar WITH NEIGHBOU neig G L D A IN RA BE T I regularly stop and talk with people in my neighbourhood

NKS with N socio-economic U CT LI WELL E s A R R

LOCA A I borrow things and exchange favours with my neighbours characteristics. S L INTEG

RATION Link

FEELIN L

We call this creating T Friendships in my neighbourhood mean a lot to me I I GS O

F SAFE F

N T TY

‘benchmarks for U E E YO LA How safe do you feel walking alone in this area during the day

ABIL LO M REET E

comparable places,’ ST CA of T A

AC ty

L gs IT

F fe AC A How safe do you feel walking alone after dark as shown opposite. Y TO CI sa BLE SP LI elin TA TO T

IE Fe AP IN S How does the level of crime in your local area compare to the country as a whole AD The results of the resident FL

UE e How important is it for you personally to feel that you can influence decisions

survey are subject to N y to affecting your local area

CE it uenc il fl statistical testing. Only WILLINGNESS Can you influence decisions affecting your local area Ab in V O C E statistically signiﬁcant I C E E N A N D I N F L U results are reported in -0.4 -0.2 010.2 0.400.6 .8 .0 Less positive More positive 18 19 3.0 Research ﬁndings

his section describes the two children, and 10% had between ﬁndings of the resident three and ﬁve children. survey, site survey and Royal Arsenal Riverside has a young contextual interviews with • population. 50% of residents living local stakeholders. T in private households were under 35 and 17% were under 25. 75% of residents in affordable households 3.1 were under 45 and 40% under 35. Only 5% of people from private Resident survey: who households were aged over 56.

did we interview? • 18% had lived in their home for a year, 51% for two years, 23% for three 226 people took part in the years, 5% for four years, and 3% for resident survey.4 ﬁve years or more.

Household circumstances

• 151 people (67%) lived in private ‘When people who live housing, 72 (32%) in affordable, within the borough come and three (1%) identiﬁed themselves as other. in, they are surprised

• 59 households (25%) had children to see such beautiful and under 18 living at home, of which, historic buildings.’ 40 (70%) had one child, 13 (22%) had

4 Interviews were carried out during the day and the evening, during the week and at weekends, over a three-week period in February 2014. A quota sampling method was used to ensure that the balance between private and affordable households at Royal Arsenal Riverside was reﬂected in the data collection.

20 21 Age of respondents Ethnicity

120 s 50 50% Private nt pe

ty Affordable

sponde 105 nure 40 40% 100 by te 35 cent r Number of re Pe 30% 80

21 20% 17 60 12

10% 7 7 45 6 4 40 1 0 0% Under 25 26-3536-45 46-5556-65 66+

20 21 20

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Average annual household income Iris ri des e and Wh Ot Indian Britis it Af ribb k mi Chines her blac her whit ngla her mi Wh Ca Ot Ot blac Ba Ot ethnic grou

Private

Affordable

40% pe 37 ty

35% nure Work and household income Ethnicity by te 30%

cent 27 r 76% of people from private households The majority of people living at Royal Pe 25% 24 and 72% of people from affordable Arsenal described themselves as 22 20 20 tenures were in full or part-time being of White British or Other White 20% 17 paid work. 8% of respondents were backgrounds (66%). 9% were Indian 15% 14 unemployed (in line with the borough and 9% were African. The other average for Greenwich). 7% of private ethnic groups were Chinese (4%), 10% 9 residents and 1% of affordable Caribbean (3%), White Irish (2%) and 5 5% 3 residents were students. Average a small number of people who were 2 household incomes ranged from Bangladeshi or from mixed African, 0% Up to £14,000£14,001 – £28,000£28,001 – £41,000 £41,001 – £62,000 £62,001 – £83,000Over £83,001 £14,000 to over £83,000 per year. Caribbean and Asian backgrounds.

22 23 3.2 the comparable area benchmarks, in particular, residents described very How important is where you live to your sense of who you are? Social and cultural life high levels of feeling that where they

live contributes positively to their Negative sense of who they are. Residents and This section describes how residents Positive visitors place a high value on Royal answered questions measuring the Arsenal’s unique architectural and social and cultural life dimension of 100%

natural landscapes. It is likely this pe the framework. ty 90 distinctiveness contributes signiﬁcantly nure

80%

to these positive responses. of te 70 cent Local identity Overall, 75% of residents in private r Pe households and 71% in affordable 60% households plan to remain resident. Do you plan to remain a • A more detailed breakdown of resident of this neighbourhood 40% responses by tenure type shows an for a number of years? 30 interesting picture: • Do you feel like you belong to 20% • 90% of owner occupiers and 10 this neighbourhood? 67% of tenants in private rented • How important is where you live accommodation plan to stay in the 0% Private Affordable to your sense of who you are? neighbourhood. This seems like a particularly positive response from people living in private rented accommodation, which is often Plan to remain a resident for a number of years Much research about communities assumed to be a more transient explores how the identity and tenure type. Private character of a neighbourhood creates Affordable an identiﬁable sense of place and • 85% of residents who are living in how this inﬂuences people’s feelings properties rented from a housing 80% of belonging to an area. Physical and association plan to remain resident, yet pe 75 ty 71 social factors both contribute to a only 47% of people who have shared 70% nure positive local identity, for example, ownership tenures planned to remain. by te distinctive architecture or natural 60%

The number of shared ownership cent r Pe landscapes, community history, and properties at Royal Arsenal is relatively 50% local social events like street parties. low (30 units), however, it could be assumed that households with 40% This criterion investigates how residents shared equity would be more likely at Royal Arsenal feel about the 30% to want to stay in the neighbourhood. identity of the area and how these 20% 16 15 feelings inﬂuence their own sense • The number of residents reporting 14 9 of self and belonging. For all three they plan to remain resident in 10% questions in this criterion, residents the neighbourhood is above the 0% report positive responses that are above comparable area benchmark. Negative NeutralPositive

24 25 Feelings of belonging are higher than CABE has demonstrated that well- the benchmark for comparable areas. designed and high quality public Local support networks to call on Private residents reported stronger spaces, street layouts that connect and feelings of belonging than residents integrate different neighbourhoods, Private in affordable households (69% and shared facilities like shops and Affordable compared to 60%). parks, can encourage informal daily 50% interaction between people of pe 48 ty different backgrounds. This kind of 45 nure daily social interaction between people 42 Links with neighbours by te

40%

living and working in a neighbourhood cent r 37 has been demonstrated to build Pe If I needed advice I could go to • trust and over time, to encourage the someone in my neighbourhood type of weak social ties that are often 30% • I borrow things and exchange described as ‘latent neighbourliness’ favours with my neighbours or ‘collective efﬁcacy’. 21 • I regularly stop and talk with 30% of residents at Royal Arsenal say 20% people in my neighbourhood they trust other people who live locally, which is a very positive response Friendships in my neighbourhood • (the second highest) against the mean a lot to me 10% comparable area benchmark. Almost 7 • Most people can be trusted 90% of residents (90% private and 87% or you cannot be too careful affordable households) agree that with people the local area is a place where people 0% Negative NeutralPositive from different backgrounds get along, People from different • although these responses are lower backgrounds get on well than the comparable area benchmark. day interaction with their neighbours. People living in shared ownership Roughly half of the people • Responses to the four questions and private rented tenures interviewed said that local friendships about neighbourliness were all below reported lower levels of interaction Social ties at neighbourhood level and associations were important the comparable area benchmark. with their neighbours across all the are acknowledged to make a positive to them. Yet in spite of high levels questions about neighbourliness. contribution to individual wellbeing of trust residents at Royal Arsenal • 45% of private and 42% of affordable They were least likely to say and community resilience. Work by describe a mixed picture of day-to- households report they could they could go to someone in the seek advice from someone in the neighbourhood if they needed neighbourhood if they needed help advice (31% shared ownership ‘Almost 90% of residents agree that the • 39% of private and 49% of affordable and 40% private rented compared households report they regularly talk to 54% of owner occupiers) or to local area is a place where people to their neighbours regularly stop and speak with their neighbours (37% shared ownership • Only 18% of private and affordable and 33% private rented compared households borrow things or from different backgrounds get along.’ to 51% of owner occupiers). exchange favours with neighbours

26 27 Wellbeing those for owner occupiers and shared ownership households (94%) but Have you been feeling reasonably happy? signiﬁcantly higher than people living Have you recently felt that • in social rented homes (86%). you were playing a useful part Negative in things? If the four questions in the criterion Positive are taken individually, residents Have you been feeling • report very high levels of satisfaction reasonably happy? 100% pe

with life overall and high levels of ty 95 94

• How dissatisﬁed or satisﬁed feeling reasonably happy against nure

are you with life overall? the benchmark for comparable 90% by te 89

places. However, levels of satisfaction cent r

Overall, how satisfied or Pe • with the area as a place to live and dissatisfied are you with your responses to the question ‘have 80% local area as a place to live? you recently felt you were playing a useful part in things?’ are below the 70% benchmark for comparable places. 80% private and 75% affordable ONS is putting considerable focus households report they felt they were 60% on the measurement of the nation’s playing a useful part in things and wellbeing following a policy direction 91% of private and 89% of affordable set out by the Prime Minister after households say they have been feeling 50% the 2010 election. ONS uses four reasonably happy. questions to explore different aspects Residents report high levels of of wellbeing: ‘overall, how satisfied are 40% satisfaction with the local area as a you with your life nowadays?’, ‘overall, place to live (84% private and 80% to what extent do you think the things 30% affordable households) and with their you do in your life are worthwhile?’, current situation (86% private and 78% ‘overall, how happy did you feel affordable households). yesterday?’, and ‘overall, how anxious 20% did you feel yesterday?’.5 A closer look at different tenure groups 11 shows that people living in private This framework includes one of these 10% 6 rented homes report the highest levels questions in the social sustainability 5 of happiness; 95% say they have been assessment: ‘overall, how satisfied are feeling reasonably happy and 88% you with your life nowadays?’ and three 0% Owner occupied Private rented Affordable said they felt happy yesterday. The questions from other national surveys. results for the first question – ‘have These questions were selected when you been feeling reasonably happy?’ the framework was developed because – are only marginally higher than Berkeley Group and the research team felt it was inappropriate to ask included in te Royal Arsenal resident residents very personal questions. survey, although the results have not However, an additional question ‘how been included in the benchmarking or 5 ONS (2011) Initial investigation into subjective wellbeing from the Opinions Survey. London: Office for National Statistics. happy were you yesterday?’ was also overall social sustainability assessment.

28 29 Feelings of safety Local facilities Royal Arsenal residents rated the two criteria that measure voice and quality of sports and social facilities, influence. and play facilities for children aged How safe do you feel walking Are you satisfied/dissatisfied with • 5-11 as satisfactory. Residents were alone in this area during the quality of facilities for: very positive about the provision Willingness to act the day? • Children and young people of local health facilities but were • How safe do you feel (0-4 years)? unsatisfied with the play facilities for • I would be willing to work walking alone in this area children under the age of four. • Children and young people together with others on after dark? (5-11 years)? The lack of facilities and spaces for something to improve my • Compared to the country children and young people emerged neighbourhood • Children and young people as a whole do you think in the in-depth contextual interviews (12-15 years)? • To what extent do you agree the level of crime in your local and was identified again when or disagree that people in area is… • Children and young people residents were asked what kind of this neighbourhood pull (16-18 years)? facilities they would like to see at Royal together to improve this Arsenal in the future. Provision of Quality of health facilities? neighbourhood? • facilities for young children was fourth Residents were asked how safe they Quality of sport and leisure on the list of priorities for both private In the last 12 months, have feel walking alone in the area during • • facilities? and affordable residents. you taken any of the following the day and during the night in the actions to try to get something local area (defined as being 15-20 • Quality of facilities where Getting the right balance of play spaces done about the quality of your minutes walk from home) and also in you socialise with friends for children and young people is often a local environment? Royal Arsenal development. and family? challenge in new housing developments, in particular, designing play spaces Contacted a local radio The majority of residents feel that are not rigidly managed so are or TV station or newspaper very or fairly safe at Royal Arsenal able to provide a degree of flexibility Talked to or written to during the day (98%) and at night This criterion includes seven in how young people use them and are a sporting or cultural facility (88%). However, feelings of safety questions about residents’ able to adapt as children get older. Contacted the council in the local area at night are much satisfaction with the availability and Contacted a local councillor lower with 68% of people saying quality of community facilities in the The contextual interviews identified that or MP they feel fairly or very safe in the development, with a particular focus parking for the doctor’s surgery and Joined a local group or neighbourhoods surrounding on provision for young children of pharmacy is felt to be very inadequate. attended a neighbourhood Royal Arsenal. different ages and spaces for people The practice has four parking bays for forum to socialise. staff but there are 15 clinical rooms with Feelings of safety in the local area Attended a protest group potentially 15 clinicians, 15 staff and 15 are higher than the comparable area These questions are intended to give or joined a campaign group patients at any one time. benchmark but responses to the residents a voice in assessing the Helped organise a petition other two questions are lower than availability and quality of community the comparable area benchmark. facilities as a counterpoint to the 30% of people feel that levels of independent site surveyor’s assessment. 3.3 crime in the neighbourhood are These questions are assessed as part Voice and influence Royal Arsenal residents report higher than average. 17% feel they of the overall social sustainability rating positive responses to all nine of the are lower than average and 36% feel but are not benchmarked against This section describes how residents questions in this criterion compared they are about the same. national datasets. responded to questions about the to the benchmarks.

30 31 Three questions generated responses number of community-led initiatives the comparable area benchmark and timing of provision of facilities, with a that were significantly higher than running alongside formal residents’ responses to the question ‘can you particular focus on provision for young the others: associations, to bring people together influence decisions affecting your children of different ages, and spaces and share information including a local area?’ were marginally above the for people to socialise. First, 27 of the 226 people surveyed • community website, a book club and comparable area benchmark. (11%) said they had joined a local The site survey identified that access to a supper club. group or attended a neighbourhood retail facilities and other local services forum in the previous 12 months. is excellent. Royal Arsenal has a Tesco Although this is a relatively small 3.4 Express, a gym, office space, estate Ability to influence number of people, it is significantly Amenities and social management offices, a nursery, a pub/ higher than the comparable area restaurant, two cafés, shops, health benchmark. • In the last 12 months, has any infrastructure facilities, the Firepower Royal Artillery organisation asked you what you Museum and Local Heritage Centre. • Second, 16 people (7%) reported think about: Residents can also access a full range of they had helped organise a petition. This section of the report describes the national and local independent retailers Again, this is a small number of people Sporting facilities results of the independent site survey, in Woolwich town centre and both a but it is significantly higher than the Cultural facilities which is based on an independent site covered and open market in Plumstead comparable area benchmark. Environmental facilities survey adapted from CABE’s Building Road and Beresford Square. There are • Third, people reporting they would • Do you agree or disagree that for Life assessment. no on-site schools but there is a range of be willing to work with other people you can influence decisions primary schools and secondary schools to improve the neighbourhood (69% affecting you local area? of various denominations close by. agree or strongly agree). Community space • How important is it for you Open and green spaces are currently The relatively high levels of community personally to feel that you can well provided and generally well action are likely to be linked, in part, influence decisions affecting Does the development provide (or managed. There is Royal Arsenal to opposition to future phases of your local area? is it close to) community facilities, Gardens, a riverfront public park development at Royal Arsenal. A such as a school, parks, play areas, planned as a ‘Playable Route’. It includes number of residents have recently shops, pubs or cafés? (What kind? a skateboard park, multi-purpose, come together to raise concerns In spite of the high levels of activity Are the facilities appropriate for grassed and hard landscape areas about how site expansion will impact reported by residents against the the whole community?) for a range of activities, although on current residents. In addition, in- ‘willingness to act’ questions, they the January 2013 Masterplan proposes Have the community facilities depth interviews carried out alongside reported low rates of being consulted to re-provision this as a linear park. been appropriately provided? the resident survey identified a about the environment and local The site survey describes the sporting and cultural facilities. Is public space well designed and reconfigured park as particularly does it have suitable management 95% of residents said they had not been important, both to residents and the arrangements in place? ‘69% agree or strongly asked what they thought about local wider area, as new phases of high-density sporting, cultural or environmental development evolve at Royal Arsenal agree that they would be facilities in the previous 12 months. it will provide an active, well-lit space. willing to work with This indicator includes three questions Responses to the question ‘how about the appropriate and timely The only equipped, public play area other people to improve important is it for you personally to feel provision of community facilities in the completed to date is at Wellington the neighbourhood.’ that you can influence decisions affecting development. It captures information Park in the centre of the completed your local area?’ were marginally below about the type, adequacy, and development.

32 33 Transport links combined with a range of new additions that are architecturally restrained. However, the site survey identifies that Does the development have easy the proposed new development on access to public transport? The Waterfront, to the west of the site, lacks the same contextual constraints and creating a distinctive environment The development is close to Network will be more difficult. Rail’s mainline stations of Woolwich and Plumstead and Woolwich DLR Station in the town centre. In addition, Local integration a new Crossrail station is currently under construction on the site, which Berkeley Homes has been instrumental Is there an accommodation mix that in securing. reflects the needs and aspirations of the local community? Beresford Road (A206) is part of the South Circular and gives access to Does the design of the site the national road network and to encourage people from the north bank of the Thames via the different backgrounds and social Woolwich ferry. A number of buses groups to interact on a and the Thames Clipper serve the site. day-to-day basis (eg public Consequently, the site has a high Public spaces that are open to all, Transport Accessibility Rating of 6a. amenities situated for everyone to use, amenities accessible to all without entrance barriers?) Distinctive character Does the design of the site enable people from different Does the scheme feel like a place backgrounds and social groups with distinctive character? to share community, shopping, social and leisure facilities like parks and restaurants? The development incorporates 18 Grade I and II listed buildings, dating from 1545 to 1829, which have been A range of property types is provided converted to a range of uses. The listed including: studio, one, two and three buildings and the orthogonal pattern of bedroom flats, penthouse town streets and spaces give the Royal Arsenal and mews houses. They have been development an extremely distinctive, developed by Berkeley Homes to formal character. The historic buildings a mix agreed with its Registered are of exceptional quality with an Social Landlord (RSL) partners and abundance of detail and these have been Greenwich Borough Council.

34 35 The development to date includes behind a high perimeter wall that is in Adaptable space • Flexible land use planning that 46% affordable housing. When the part listed and a largely immovable leaves space for residents to final scheme is delivered, it will make barrier to integration. The site is further influence the design and use of Do external spaces and layout up 25%. The site survey identifies the isolated from the town centre to the public spaces in a development; allow for adaption, conversion or reduced level of affordable housing south by Beresford Street/Plumstead extension? • Scope and flexibility within is likely to be due to the very high Road, a busy dual carriageway governance and decision-making costs of site abnormals including with few obvious opportunities for structures for residents to shape contributions to Crossrail, the need enhanced links. The Crossrail Station The adaptable space criterion decisions that affect the area. to retain and restore so many listed will make the Royal Arsenal site a assesses the flexibility of external buildings and general economic major destination and clearly major Adaptability and flexibility also spaces in two ways: in the short-term conditions. The percentage of improvements to pedestrian crossing play another role in large-scale new to be re-programmed for a variety affordable housing increases in The facilities will be needed. communities, which is to create of uses, such as community events Waterfront to 35%. opportunities to bring people A new site access is proposed from or interim use projects, and in the together to shape their own space the existing Beresford Street and long-term to be adapted as resident and services. Intermediate or Street layout Macbean Street junction that populations change in age ‘meanwhile use’ of land and buildings will allow improved pedestrian or composition. can provide space for community access to Church Street in the town Do the buildings and layout make Academic and applied research activities and for people to get to centre, providing access to The it easy to find your way around? about social sustainability has know each other. Waterfront scheme. repeatedly identified the importance Does the scheme integrate Royal Arsenal performs weakly on the To the east, the long Woolwich Arsenal of adaptability and flexibility to the with existing streets, paths and adaptable space indicator. The site boundary is defined by a high (approx long-term success of communities. surrounding development? survey identifies that other than in the 2.5 metre) brick wall of relatively recent In practical terms, the idea of IO Business Park, the density of the Are the streets pedestrian, cycle construction and integration with the adaptability can be interpreted as: development is such that it would be and vehicle friendly? adjacent, residential development difficult to extend properties. Public spaces that can be adapted areas is poor. The development of the • Does the design of the local for different uses as the The resident survey and contextual suburban IO Centre business park environment adequately support community changes, for example, interviews suggest that people adjacent to the eastern boundary the needs of people with limited play spaces that can evolve if would appreciate a more relaxed exacerbates the situation, making physical mobility? the average age of children in approach to how open spaces are integration more difficult still due to a community changes; used and managed at Royal Arsenal. Are public spaces and pedestrian the dramatic change of land-use and In addition, feedback about how routes overlooked and do they development typology and issues of children use streets as informal play feel safe? safety and security. ‘Academic research spaces because the playground Streets and public spaces, existing is not appropriately located, and and proposed, are well overlooked has repeatedly identified the tensions this creates with child- The site survey describes Royal from adjacent buildings and generally free households, suggests there is Arsenal as legible with distinctive, the importance of feel safe and are accessible to the value in working with residents to memorable buildings, spaces and adaptability and flexibility disabled, frail and infirm. All buildings explore alternatives. artefacts at every turn. are designed to meet Lifetime Home to the long-term success The research did not identify any The Royal Woolwich Arsenal was Standards and 10% are adaptable to of communities.’ proposals for temporary or interim designed as a separate, secure enclave Greenwich’s Wheelchair Site Plan. uses of Royal Arsenal’s open spaces.

36 37 3.5 and then quality of the housing and Quality of life built environment as fourth and fifth Factors contributing to quality of life factors for private households and quality of housing and cleanliness of the development for residents in Affordable Residents were asked what aspects 14 Heritage affordable households. Private of living in Royal Arsenal contributed 6 most to their quality of life. Residents identified a wide range of factors 8 Management of 3.6 development (concierge) and these have been analysed by 30 tenure to determine whether there Facilities residents would are significant differences of opinion 16 between how residents in private like to see Shops and affordable households value the 35 development. Residents were asked to identify 17 Transport links was the most highly rated Community the facilities they would like to see 31 factor for private households who value developed at Royal Arsenal. the connections to central London, 27 Cleanliness of the city and Canary Wharf, and the job Overall, a better and more upmarket development opportunities and access to shopping, choice of bars, cafés and restaurants 25 leisure and cultural facilities elsewhere. and better sports facilities were 13 the top priorities for respondents from Facilities and Royal Arsenal’s surroundings are the amenities all tenures. 37 most highly rated factor for affordable households, who identified the river, High street shops were the third 28 open and green spaces (rated second priority for people living in privately Quality of housing and development for private residents) followed by owned or rented households. 40 transport links. Facilities for young children and 19 Safety and security were rated third community facilities were the third Quiet and peaceful 48 for private and affordable households, and fourth priorities for people living followed by the peace and quiet in affordable households. 37 Safety and security 67

53 Surroundings ‘Crossrail means everything, it (river, green space) 77 guarantees Woolwich’s future – 43 Transport links access to Canary Wharf, the 99

0 20 40 60 80 100 City, the West End and Heathrow.’ Number of responses

38 39 Facilites residents would like to see

Affordable Don’t know Private Laundrette/dry cleaner

Art gallery

Resident meetings

More school places

More security

Cycling (Boris bikes, cycle parking and paths)

Youth centre for older children

Better transport (boat, taxi, bus)

Exercise classes

Local shops (grocer, florist)

Childcare (day care, mother and toddler groups)

Open spaces (parks and walks)

Hairdresser/beauty spa

Cinema, bowling, theatre

More parking for visitors/ free for residents

Dentist/GP

Community facilities

Facilities for young children

High street shops

Sports facilities (better/bigger gym, swimming pool, sports field)

More upmarket restaurants and bars, better choice of cafés

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Number of responses

40 41 4.0 Contextual interviews

his section of the report 4.1 describes the main themes emerging from the Neighbourliness and contextual interviews. community spirit Eight in-depth, one-to- T The interviews revealed a variety of one interviews were carried out with perspectives about Royal Arsenal’s people working and living at Royal sense of community. Some people felt Arsenal Riverside,6 including housing it was a friendly neighbourhood and ‘a associations, local businesses, tight community’ and gave examples local councillors, the management of neighbours helping each other company, one of the residents’ out when there were problems with associations, and a community their houses, such as someone being organisation. The purpose of the locked out. interviews was to capture a range of perspectives that would be valuable For people who described a strong in interpreting the results of the sense of community spirit at Royal resident survey. Arsenal this feeling was attributed to a sense of pride and solidarity, which they felt creates a foundation for a ‘People recognised that more profound sense of community cohesion. For example, some people local businesses and thought that sharing a contained space, facilities play an important separate from the rest of Woolwich, role in enabling residents, created a positive sense of belonging. Others that the site’s distinctive and people from the wider character and the fact it is well kept and area, to come together.’ managed, fosters a sense of pride that residents want to maintain.

6 The interviews were semi-structured, up to an hour long, and took place in February and March 2014.

42 43 Other interviewees felt that there were 4.2 cliques within the community and Community cohesion ‘subsets of different communities’. Some interviewees linked this feeling A number of interviewees identified to the huge diversity of tenures and that the sense of disconnection was people from different backgrounds reinforced by the way the development living at Royal Arsenal and described is managed, which make it difficult that people from different tenure types to bring different resident groups were disconnected and not sufficiently together into a cohesive community, in integrated creating an ‘us and them particular, enabling residents to come feel’. Not all interviewees shared this together and develop a shared voice feeling; others thought that diversity about local issues. of tenures and people from different Some people found the different backgrounds created a cosmopolitan management structures and community, where people were variations in service charges linked mutually respectful. to different tenure types confusing People recognized that local businesses and identified this as a source of development, which would not have 4.4 and facilities play an important role in tension for some residents, who been possible without Berkeley. enabling residents, and people from were unclear about what to expect Community voice the wider area, to come together. One in return. For example, although the Interviewees described Woolwich and action person described how The Dial Arch gym is now accessible to all residents, as changing fast from a working pub ‘works like a village pub… you can the concierge service is limited to class area of London to a much more People recognized the residents’ walk in and just join a group of people.’ some tenure types. People felt this mixed area as a result of the influx of forum does a good job and works Another person described how the kind of distinction is unhelpful and professionals who work in the city hard. However, some interviewees felt Cornerstone Café is an important reinforces feelings of difference and now choosing to buy homes in the that the forum is limited in what it can ‘social hub’ and informal community sometimes exclusion. Some people area. Some people said that locals do and is trying to build a community meeting space for a book club, supper suggested that having a Community welcomed the change but others were against the odds. Others felt that it is club, and the badminton club meet-up. Liaison Officer who could help to concerned that ‘the money made in hard for some people to have a voice Interviewees appreciated the holiday organise local events would improve the Arsenal stays there’ and doesn’t in the forum and Berkeley should time children’s activities organised by community strength. feed into the wider area because provide more practical support for Southern Housing and the summer fun Royal Arsenal residents don’t shop in residents and groups in the community day organised with sponsorship from Woolwich. Conversely, some people to come together. Berkeley Homes and Rendall & Rittner. said that people living around Royal 4.3 Interviewees described a number of Arsenal don’t use the shops, bars, Overall, interviewees felt that initiatives to provide local information Prosperity of the area cafés and parks in the development. support for the community could and support residents: people use be better but at the moment ‘it Generally, Royal Arsenal is seen to have Beresford Street (the dual carriage way) Facebook and Twitter to organise was heading in the right direction’, boosted the reputation of Woolwich and the wall around the development community activities, there is a although interviewees were keen and made a positive contribution are physical barriers between Royal residents’ website providing updates to stress that, as the development to the area. Interviewees described Arsenal and Woolwich and are seen to about the local surgery and pharmacy grows, the fragile new community the DLR and forthcoming Crossrail symbolize the social and economic gap opening times, and local businesses will need to be nurtured. connection as the lasting legacy of the between residents. organise events for the community.

44 45 Some people are concerned about 4.6 how the scale of future development Safety will impact on the existing community. Interviewees described how some Interviewees said that Royal Arsenal residents are hostile because feels much safer than the rest of they feel they were not properly Woolwich and London, creating ‘a informed about the next phases sense of relief as people come through of development and at the same the gate’ from the outside area. time, there are feelings of irritation There have been very few incidents that some facilities, like a local of opportunistic crime such as bicycle cinema, were promised but are yet theft, and anti-social behaviour is to materialise. not seen as a cause for concern. Interviewees said people are reassured by the two security ofﬁcers patrolling 4.5 the site and the CCTV cameras. The local Safer Neighbourhood Team Built environment holds resident surgeries regularly, and design however, interviewees said that not many people turn up. People are attracted to Royal Arsenal because of its unique heritage. Interviewees described the buildings as ‘beautiful’, ‘unusual’ and ‘a 4.7 sensitive mix of old and new’ and Children recognised the development’s proximity to the Thames and the Royal Arsenal was not felt by three riverside walks make it a distinctive interviewees to be very family friendly place to be. Although some people and the number of children living felt the built environment is stark in the development was generally and regimental as this quote thought to be low. Interviewees indicates: ‘Everything is square… described ‘typical residents’ as long roads, square buildings. It has young urban professionals, nearly no soft part to it’. all couples, or people with different lifestyles with high disposable Interviewees said that most residents incomes who ‘don’t want children’s feel proud of and respect the built facilities to be near where they live’. environment, evidenced by people picking up litter and keeping their Interviewees felt the strict rules surrounding environment clean. imposed by the management company However, people also described created tensions for families. For It was also felt the park and children’s to play outside their houses, where the estate management regime as example, the park was described as a play area is too far from people’s they can be made to feel like excessively strict. ‘space to be admired and walked on’. homes, which means children tend a nuisance.

46 47 5.0 Visitors to Royal Arsenal Riverside

signiﬁcant number of • 66% were alone, 30% were in a party non-residents visit Royal of two adults and 15% were visiting Arsenal Riverside for with children. work and leisure. A visitor 64% of people described themselves survey was commissioned • as White British, 17% ‘other white Aas part of this project to understand background’, 6% African. more about who is visiting Royal Arsenal and what they feel about the • 76% of visitors were in full or part-time community, in particular, the facilities paid work, 20% were self employed, and open spaces. 14% retired, 10% unemployed and 7% were students.

• The majority of people were visiting 5.1 from other parts of London with the greatest number (77 or 58%) Visitor survey: who did coming from other areas of south we interview? east London. 14% came from other areas of central London, 17% from 138 people were interviewed as part outer London, and 14% from London of the visitor survey.7 including visitors from other areas of the country and internationally. • 42% of people were visiting for leisure, 28% for work, 22% visiting • 24% of the visitors surveyed came from family and friends, and 8% were the neighbourhoods in SE18 postcodes, passing through on the way to which cover roughly a two-mile radius somewhere else. around Royal Arsenal.

7 Interviews were undertaken on the Royal Arsenal Riverside site on all days from the 5th to the 11th February 2014. Interviews were undertaken during the day and in the evening and at the weekends in order to capture a range of visit types. Participants were screened to make sure only non-residents were interviewed. Interviewers rotated between three sampling points; the car park, the gate and the boat pier.

48 49 • 27% had travelled to Royal Arsenal Feedback about the local facilities Visitors from south east London postcodes by car, 24% by bus, 22% walked, was positive. 49% of people described 14% by DLR, 8% by train, 1.5% by themselves as very satisﬁed and 41% riverboat. Trips by underground, satisﬁed with the available facilities. 20 s 19 motorbike or coach each accounted 36% of people thought some facilities sponse for less than 1% of the total. were lacking and said they would like to see more parking (13 people), more 15 14 restaurants (10 people) and public Number of re 5.2 toilets (10 people).

10 How often do they visit? The majority of the people who were interviewed were not intending 6 to visit a speciﬁc destination. 5 5 4 4 The frequency of visits to Royal Arsenal Only 26% were visiting to go to

2222222 varied from 39% of people who said the Cornerstone café, 21% for 1 111 1 they visit weekly, 11% who visited the Dial Arch pub, 9% for the 0 fortnightly, 7% monthly and 15% who Greenwich Heritage Centre, 18%

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Frequency of visits to Royal Arsenal Riverside Frequency

Percent

60 54

39.1 40

20 20 15 14 14 14.5 10.9 10 10.1 10.1 10 7. 2 7 5.1 4 2.9

0 Once a week About once About once About once About twice About once Less This is my or more a fortnight a month a every two a year a year frequently first visit frequently or three months

50 51 People were asked about their general jobs, with onsite access to Crossrail impressions of Royal Arsenal. 152 creating closer links with the city, respondents gave positive answers, the West End and Heathrow. which included the attractiveness of the 23 people gave negative answers citing area, the peace, quiet and relaxing space, concerns about Royal Arsenal being and the sympathetic and innovative exclusive and insular and becoming combination of old and new architecture. overcrowded as future phases of Some visitors also reported that Royal development continued. Arsenal was good for the wider area, creating new housing and potential Right: A volunteer at Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum

Satisfaction with different facilities Satisﬁed

Dissatisﬁed

Neither

100 s sponse

85 82 Number of re 80

74 73

20 17

5 5 3 2 22 1 11 0 Cornerstone Dial Arch PubFGreenwich irepower Woolwich Café Heritage Centre Museum High Street

52 53 6.0 Key insights and opportunities for innovation

his work identifies a set overall residents feel happy, safe and of practical issues and like they belong to the community, the lessons for Royal Arsenal in-depth interviews find potential fault Riverside, which reflect lines between people from different the complexity and backgrounds and tenure types and Tchallenges of creating genuinely in Royal Arsenal’s relationship to mixed and sustainable communities. the wider area. Residents say they They are questions about the value the emerging community inclusion and involvement of spirit but also recognise it is fragile residents from different backgrounds and will need to be nurtured if the and tenure types, and how these neighbourhood is to become a strong opportunities (or obstacles) influence and cohesive community. neighbourliness, community Royal Arsenal’s diversity of social, cohesion, and participation in the income and ethnic groups and social and civic life of the community. mixture of tenure types can be seen Some of the issues identified as typical of the current generation in this research are about of large-scale new communities and the built environment, such as the regeneration schemes in London. management of public spaces or The successes and tensions this Royal Arsenal’s separation from research reveals are not unique to Woolwich town centre. Primarily, Royal Arsenal but are reflected in the however, the key findings are about experience of new communities and the way people living, working and estate regeneration initiatives all over visiting Royal Arsenal interact London and around the UK, which and feel about each other. Inclusion makes it all the more important the is a recurring theme in this research. views expressed in this research are While the survey findings show that given attention.

54 55 Crucially, this work shows that the sustainable approaches that can and other social sustainability • Third, experience at Royal services and support available to incorporate elements of community assessments at Woodberry Down Arsenal suggests there is value residents shape feelings of inclusion development and support into the and Kidbrooke Village, suggests in exploring how residents could and are as important as the quality traditional role of housing and estate that light-touch support to organise influence the management of of the built environment. It is in management. community events, co-ordinate public and open spaces in new approaches to stewardship of the between different resident communities. Feedback from this The experience of the Royal Arsenal community, or ‘place-keeping’, where associations, share local news and social sustainability assessment, residents highlights three key issues there is real scope for innovation. provide informal engagement and others at Beaufort Park, The that a new approach to community would be sufficient. There is value in Hamptons and Knowle Village, The key insight from this work is that management could address. exploring a new hybrid ‘community all identified tensions around the a new ‘place-keeping’ model is First, expanding and re-designing concierge’ role that is partly about management of public spaces. needed to respond to the challenges • estate management services to community development and These frustrations could be used as this research identifies and to provide encompass community development partly about estate management. the starting point for a productive the support needed by large- functions would provide a sustainable Arguably, this type of hybrid role conversation with residents about scale new communities and estate and cost-effective way to give would offer opportunities to develop how people want to use open and regeneration programmes. The residents on-going, practical support. a different and more responsive type public spaces and the scope for sector needs to seek out innovative, Feedback from Royal Arsenal, of relationship with residents. jointly designing temporary or pragmatic and economically interim uses that can also service to • Second, there are valuable lessons bring residents together. about partnership working that could be applied to the design This work demonstrates that of a new place-keeping model. it is possible to measure how Residents at Royal Arsenal, and other residents experience life in a new Berkeley Group developments, neighbourhood, to understand identify the tensions that arise from how new communities start to form, different housing management and to use these insights to identify arrangements for different tenure how housing providers and public types. It is impractical to suggest that agencies can intervene to support these could be streamlined into one new places to flourish. We believe system for all tenure types. However, this kind of understanding matters there is scope for innovation in key to the housebuilding industry service areas or functions where and planning authorities. Tools collaboration is possible and will like this social sustainability help to support feelings of inclusion. assessment framework are a step For example, establishing a single towards this goal, enabling us to residents association that is open to generate valuable and measurable everyone regardless of tenure, or, insights about how the built as has happened at Royal Arsenal, environment, public services, and allowing residents to ‘opt-in’ to local community facilities and added value services such as resources can work together to gyms where these services are not help new neighbourhoods become included in their service charge. flourishing places.

56 57 ‘This research shows that the same care, attention and investment given to place-making needs to be brought to thinking about the idea of place-keeping.’

This project was carried out by Social Life, a social enterprise specialising in work on innovation in place-making. Our expertise is in the social dimensions of place-making and sustainability, in understanding how to accelerate local social innovation, and in knowing how to translate these insights into practice and policy. Our mission is to connect place-making with people’s everyday experience and the way that communities work. Social Life works with property developers, housing associations, architects, communities and governments in the UK and internationally.

Social Life carried out the analysis and interpretation of this research project. Face Facts undertook the resident survey. Gerard Brady of Matrix Partnerships carried out the site survey. Alix Godfrey of Sigma Phi carried out the statistical analysis.

58 Berkeley Homes East Thames Limited 85 Tudway Road London SE3 9YG www.berkeleygroup.co.uk