Winner: Transformation of Northmoor

In the words of Stephen Porter, Great Places Chief Executive, a decade ago Northmoor was “a crime-ridden no-go area of boarded-up homes with a disenfranchised, disillusioned community”. To combat this, key partners came together to invest £20.9m in changing the face and in turn the community spirit, of this Manchester area.

Judges' comment:

“This is an imaginative project driven from the grassroots by the desire and determination of the residents themselves. It has a demonstrable and proven track record spanning 10 years and demonstrates how the area has evolved into a sustainable, cohesive and diverse mix of existing and emerging communities. This is about real people achieving genuine success while facing the harsh reality and challenges of true community living.”

www.greatplaces.org.uk

"An area that was once rejected is now coveted"

Local people were integral to forming the concept plan, drawn up in 1997 before any changes were proposed. This contained a very clear framework of the community’s needs and aspirations. Fun days and drop-in sessions were used to build up a picture of what residents wanted. “Residents who were adamant they did not want to see wholesale demolition were key to the vision for a place with less crime, more green space, bigger and better-quality houses and quieter streets,” says Porter.

As a result, an area that was once rejected is now coveted, meaning that instead of the council offering vouchers to people to live there, there is now a three to four year waiting list. Streets have been remodelled to create a more pedestrian-friendly area, with bollards and parking spaces designed to slow traffic down to 10mph. Houses have been refitted, 20 new family homes built and more than 800 homes given a facelift. Together with better street lighting, brightly coloured bollards and hanging baskets, the introduction of gated alleys has reduced crime and fostered community spirit. Residents are encouraged to use the alleys as extensions to their back yards, and to put out benches and plants, encouraging social interaction, mutual respect and increased feelings of safety.

After consultation with residents, community wardens have been installed and continue to make a huge impact, particularly in their work with local schools. Northmoor Community Association has more than 200 members and has also played a vital and sustained role in the regeneration process. As the co-ordinators say:
“A revamped community scene driven by the regeneration partnership is now the ‘glue’ that holds the neighbourhood together - a community centre in a beautiful, renovated building and a low-cost launderette run by volunteers are twin lynchpins.”

Ten years on from the first ideas of intervention, the Northmoor area is a shining example of what can be achieved, given the right approach and the backing of the community it is serving.

Project highlights

• The regeneration of Northmoor is an example of how residents can decide what they need to improve their community. By working together with investors, real problems can be solved, and improvements on living standards can be achieved.
• Crime and anti-social behaviour have been ‘designed out' by remodelling streets and introducing Home Zones, removing shortcuts used by commuters in the daytime and joyriders at night.
• The installation of wardens has made a huge impact, especially in their work with local schools.