Overview: Scotswood Benwell Regeneration

overview word/rtf version

This overview reflects the most important findings on completion of the 10-step process in the ReUrbA² lifestyle learning environment.

Whom are you planning for?

The current and future lifestyles as reflected by the moodboard have been identified as the ones for which this neighbourhood will be planned for in the next decade or so. They have been selected with the general demographic shifts and the specific political ambitions for this neighbourhood in mind.

Born and bred Scotswood

Transient households

Immigrant families

What should you plan?

This moodboard reflects the kind of social and living environment that would attract the lifestyles as identified above. Furthermore, people are either looking for a comfortable home with, for example, parking facilities close by, in which case this neighbourhood will have to compete with the suburbs, or a living and social environment with lots of character and a unique identify. Which do you offer?

Born and bred Scotswood

Living Environment

Neighbourhood orientation

Comfort or Identity

Transient households

Living Environment

Neighbourhood orientation

Comfort or Identity

Immigrant families

Living Environment

Neighbourhood orientation

Comfort or Identity

How should you accomplish this?

In order to create these living and social environments to attract the lifestyles as identified, the following should or should not be done:

Residential concepts
Must do
Complete land assembly and demolition programme (including CPO). Complete Area Action Plan and Expo Study. Agree contracts with housebuilders to provide highest quality development. Use land ownership as financial tool. Publicise Expo and align with complementary events. Monitor market interest to allow release of phase 2 development.		 Must not do
Allow demolition programme to drag on without CPO. Repeart mistakes of the past. Allow poor quality development. Lose support of public sector funders. Provide product that does not appeal to the market or home buyers.
Public space
Must do
Make sure that the Area Action Plan has polices and plans for open space.		Must not do
Allow clearance areas to be designated greenfield sites.
Degree/type of differentiation
Must do
Have majority of new houses for owner occupation in line with people's aspirations. Have financial packages in place for affordable housing eg shared ownership.		Must not do
Create mono-tenure neighbourhoods. Allow speculation to undermine new developments.
Important facilities and features
Must do
Align development of City Academy to housing regeneration. Agree with partners who is funding infrastructure. Align housing development with new District Heart.		Must not do
Allow important facilities to develop outside of area action plan or regeneration framework.

Where should you start?

A transitional phase is needed in which pioneers from these lifestyles and who are willing to invest are attracted to the area. In order to attract these pioneers some temporary facilities are needed. This is what you start with tomorrow!

Are there people who want to invest money in an area which is indeed developing but which still has a negative image?

There are public sector agencies (Pathfinder, English Partnerships, Council) willing to invest money in this area in order to kick start the process of long term, sustainable development. It is envisaged that private developers will be involved when they are convinced that public bodies are investing and they know what the plans, quality and numbers of new development will be.

Are there pioneers who will win other people over once they have been won over themselves?

The Housing Expo will be targeted at both pioneers and households wanting high quality homes close to the regional centre and employment.

Which temporary facilities are required in order to breathe life into the transition? Examples may be studios for artists or small workshops for companies in accommodation that is getting too small.

Large, outdoor art installations that are visible from the main roads going past Scotswood will create interest before development begins

 

See the full report for all the questions and answers.