A new Joseph Rowntree Foundation report on life on unpopular estates does not seem to have had much coverage in the media. But its good news.
The report produced by researchers at the LSE and published this week on 20 sink estates shows that almost all the estates studied had been turned around. As a result the gap between the estates and neighbouring areas had narrowed over the last decade.
While government policy and buoyancy in labour and housing markets are clearly factors, housing associations and ALMOs can (and should) take some credit.
Let’s hope the comprehensive spending review gives some priority to housing and regeneration – in particular, decent neighbourhoods - to carry on the good work.
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As a Non Executive Board Member of a housing trust of which one of our estates was subject to this 25 year observation I would echo Bob Deed's comment that housing associations and ALMOs should take credit for these changes.
Our organisations are now having to think and act in a much more commercial and customer focused environment than that of yesteryear and indeed I doubt that the 'council housing department' would of instigating or dealt with such change.
Indeed we cannot take total credit, this age of regeneration is fostered through structured and effective partnerships involving diverse stakeholders and funders including local government.
Real community engagement is paramount to change and this is maybe the toughest challenge for all involved. We need to recognise the change that has occurred, promote that success widely and above all remain committed to continued improvement - there are still many challenges until everyone lives in decent Neighbourhoods, maybe in another 25 years time we will be nearer still.
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