The Gateway

The Ravenscliffe Community Association led a project to build a new multi-purpose community centre. The idea came from a consultation exercise involving 250 residents in 2001. People wanted a facility that could be used by children, families and older people and well as offer health care. They wanted “a place where people could gather”.

The planning, design and construction of the community centre for the Ravenscliffe Estate aims to tackle social exclusion and isolation whilst ensuring the full and meaningful involvement of residents at all stages of the planning and design process. The new facility is intended to be a catalyst for change in the neighbourhood.

The Ravenscliffe area is a large pre 1960s housing estate on the edge of Bradford City centre. There are good size houses with generous gardens on tree-lined streets. But Ravenscliffe also has its fair share of problems: there are empty properties, school closures, anti-social behaviour and the aftermath of the 2001 racial disturbances to contend with. However things are looking up: there is funding for education and employment projects, neighbourhood wardens have been introduced, and a new local housing trust has been set up. The estate falls within the Newlands Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) initiative and the project was part funded by a grant of £200K secured from the SRB programme.

From the very beginning the group had the ingredients for a successful project - an idea, a site for the project, a group of committed residents, some funding opportunities and the support of the Ravenscliffe Community Development Project. But the group was yet to develop designs for the building, secure funding for the building costs and produce a viable business plan for the long-term use of the building. No one in the group had done anything like this before, including their Community Support Worker.

The Ravenscliffe group was one of the first groups The Glass-House worked with. Since 2001, The Glass-House has provided the group with a range of support and services. This included funding for a fun day to get feedback from residents about the renewal centre; residential training on how to get involved in regeneration and how to design buildings; tailored business planning and fundraising training; a study visit to a self-build community building in Nottingham; ongoing help from a Glass-House advisor about the technical aspects of the building process; and part funding for architects’ fees for a feasibility study. Overall the group has greatly valued the help The Glass-House has offered in keeping them motivated, informed and on track to achieve their vision.

Local people were employed in the construction of the centre after the group negotiated this into the contract with the developer. Local people were employed as builders and did the site security. As a result, there has also been no theft on site. The Communities Fund described the group as “exceptionally well organised” with “exceptional tenant involvement”. The awarding officer said it was the “best project ever approved”.

Since the project was completed in February 2005 local people have secured employment within The Gateway, with 4 local people now working within the Centre. After the first year of operation the services delivered from The Gateway have really taken off: the Gateway currently has over 300 users per week and has become a real focal point for the Estate.

CIVIC Architects provided professional services, on demand, to guide the group through the entire design process.

The centre has featured on the Community Channel as an exemplar community project.

“There is an awareness now that local people have some control over things”

“Residents are a lot more active… than in neighbouring communities”

Buildings

• Multi Purpose Community Centre
• Green technologies - solar panels on the roof
• Multi use centre including nursery and crèche
• Exemplar community managed project
• Partnership working
• SRB funding programme
• Consultation involving 250 residents

Design Champion Cash Grant (no longer available)

CIVIC Architects provided professional services, on demand, to guide the group through the entire design process.
The centre has featured on the Community Channel as an exemplar community project.

• Community Involvement in Regeneration
• Buildings by Design
• Places by Design

CIVIC Architects