Granville New Homes

South Kilburn Housing Project Team formed a Resident’s Steering Group with the objective of providing residents with the tools to engage in a housing project and to provide practical advice on their project. A series of technical workshops and an inspiring Study Tour provided the ideal opportunity for residents to work in partnership and positively influence the plans for their future homes.

The South Kilburn Granville New Homes project is part of the larger redevelopment of South Kilburn, consisting of the replacement of approximately 1500 affordable housing units and an extra 1400 homes in private ownership alongside new provision for community centres and health facilities, educational buildings and a new sports centre. 

The South Kilburn area scores very high on the major Indices of Deprivation. In line with the government’s policy on tackling deprivation, social exclusion and creating sustainable communities, the council were successful in attracting New Deal for Communities (NDC) funding of £50.6m in 2001. This necessitated setting up an NDC partnership board, which consists of major stakeholders including the council, with a resident majority and the South Kilburn NDC itself a vehicle that is a resident-led body for delivering social programmes.

The Granville New Homes Development sits at the centre of the wider project area and consists of approximately 140 new homes of mixed tenure, the re-provision of The Tabot Youth Centre and the creation of a new open space /pocket park. Since the autumn of 2004, the steering group has been involved with the selection, briefing and subsequent commissioning of architectural teams for the detailed design of the project.

The Glass-House developed a study tour to Holland for the resident's steering group and Brent Council. The tour related to their housing scheme by focusing on contemporary European architecture. The group benefited from accessing interiors of housing projects and meeting community members, residents and architects from the neighbourhoods. The work was commissioned as a pilot project to develop a study tour package for future projects. 

The Glass-House also commissioned CIVIC Architects as trainers to help the group understand the technical issues surrounding the development of the project. The three days training included information on construction law, the characters involved and commonly used building terms.

The Residents Steering Group were instrumental in the selection and briefing of architects, Levitt Bernstein, and continue their role as active and articulate end-user clients. The training was essential in equipping the residents with a fundamental understanding of the technical issues necessary to work alongside professionals both in the council and the design team. 

Attendance at the training sessions was open to the area’s  most active residents and numbers were encouraging throughout. The project’s success has relied on the continued interest and determination of these key residents. 

This is an example of community participation rather than consultation. It illustrates what can be achieved if the community are involved rather than just asked.

The study tour was considered a great success by all of those who took part. It generated innovative design ideas for the housing scheme and providing an enjoyable opportunity for the  residents, project team and architects to work together and share ideas.  

The workshops increased residents' understanding of the professional practices and processes of construction. Ultimately this allowed the group to advise, negotiate and put forward recommendations on the project from an informed perspective.   

Homes

• Mixed tenure housing renewal masterplan
• High deprivation area
• Strong council - resident relationship 
• £50.6m NDC funding 
• Exemplar resident participation and leadership

• Homes by Design
• Buildings by Design
• Spaces by Design
• Play by Design

Successful study tour inspired innovative ideas

Residents better informed and able to negotiate with building professionals

CIVIC Architects