Resident Engagement

It has been recognised from the outset that the involvement, support and early participation of local residents and stakeholders as partners, in the Masterplan process is crucial. A variety of methods to actively involve residents and stakeholders has been developed to ensure full and meaningful community involvement. The consultation was designed around the key objectives of involving and inclusion of the whole of Woodberry Down, to assist and enable people to agree priorities, consider options and identify solutions. The development of ideas and proposals in this way has sought to build a strong local consensus in support of the Masterplan. The techniques involved include: workshops, focus groups, newsletters, road shows, resident site visits and organised events.

Communication & Consultation Events 2008 - coming soon

Participative and interactive workshops on a very informal basis are held on specific dates at various venues across Woodberry Down, including adhoc drop in sessions. Residents and stakeholders were asked to look at a collection of pictures on various themes - housing, streets and parking, community facilities, landscape and views, with assistance from members of the consultation team and the architects they were then able to cut and paste them onto large plans of the area to make up collages. Comments were also written on the collages, recorded by the architects to take forward for the Masterplan.

Identification of existing focus groups was established. Each member of the Consultation Team is responsible for inclusion of those groups.  Each group (i.e. young people, elderly, BME groups, etc) also attended workshops. Interpreters are available to assist if necessary.

The consultation team produce monthly newsletters to reach every household, including copies sent to stakeholders. While this is not the only method of written communication it is a means of disseminating ideas and information on a regular basis. It is also a key way of generating feedback. The team ensure that the information is easy to read, is eye-catching and in a language that is understood by all. All newsletters are translated into Turkish.

A small exhibition trailer specifically refitted to accommodate all of the Woodberry Down display information is used for the Roadshows.  The exterior of which has been sign written with the Woodberry Down branding. The trailer also accommodates a 3D Model of Woodberry Down and computer generated fly through. All members of the Woodberry Down Regeneration Team are present at these events as well as the architects, Developer & Housing Association representatives and interpreters.

The Roadshows have proved to be a successful method to engage with a significant number of residents as it provides the flexibility to ‘go to’ or reach residents. Varying the times to include evenings and weekends allows residents and stakeholders to visit even though they may have a full time job.

The Woodberry Down Masterplan Information Roadshows have given residents the chance to learn more about the project and also to discover how their views have been taken into account in the development of the Masterplan.

This document contains resident feedback from the Roadshows.

Masterplan Roadshow Evaluation Booklet (opens in a new window)

Site Visits offer residents and stakeholders the opportunity to see other regeneration projects, plus the opportunity to speak to the team, which provides empathy on both sides. They have been very popular with residents and stakeholders and will therefore be part of the future process.  

Residents of Woodberry Down have been able to view high rise buildings built by Berkeley Homes who are one of the largest housebuilders nationally. Berkeley Homes were selected in November 2005 to build the homes in the first phase of the Woodberry Down regeneration scheme – the Kick Start Phase. This document explains the site visits and provides photos of the buildings that were visited.

Woodberry Down Site Visits to Berkeley Homes (opens in a new window)

Regeneration site visits April and May (opens in a new window)

(TURKISH) Regeneration site visits April and May (opens in a new window)

The first Funday held on Woodberry Down during September 2005 was a huge success, with more than 300 residents visiting the event. There were versions of the masterplan workshops, where people were asked to stick dots on likes and dislikes of examples of housing and streets. The Funday catered for children, with a comedy duo encouraging them to think about the environment, face painting, bouncy castle and Playbus, there were complimentary therapies, including massages, a free Caribbean BBQ, steel band, and various stalls including: Access to Employment, CAB, Renaisi, Street Wardens, Age Concern, Drug Action Team and the demolition contractors to name a few.

The events organised in the future will place particular emphasis on catering for children allowing lone parents the ability to participate but also to start to involve children in the process.

Fundays will be held annually on Woodberry Down.

Funday Report 2008 (opens in a new window)

Funday Report 2007 (opens in a new window)

During the school holidays in August 2005 a local youth project, funded by the SRB6 Board and organised in partnership with The Big Stage Company and The Regeneration Team, transformed what was a large amount of dark green vandalised hoarding, surrounding the Old School Site into a positive visual statement about the area and the young people’s contribution to it, the artwork deterred illegal negative graffiti which could have impacted on the area. It also gave the youth an opportunity to find out about the regeneration.

There is regular attendance at other events, including Tenant Associations and Estate Committees. Press releases are sent out regularly to local and Turkish press.

The team recognises the importance existing groups and organisations have to play in the regeneration process.  It also recognises that it is unwise to rely on public consultation solely on formal structures and groups and is aware that it is important that the wider community is offered a wide range of opportunities to engage in the process.  The team will therefore offer any residents and stakeholders the opportunity where possible to influence the regeneration planning and implementation process through the methods above.

There is an elected Estate Development Committee whose vision is to make Woodberry Down a 'sustainable and responsible community which is confident and inclusive, socially ande commercially viable, and a place where people wish to live and work'. The Estate Development Committee liaises with the Council on all key decisions about the future of the Estates.

The Estate Development Committee meets on the third Thursday of each month at the Robin Redmond Resource Centre. Estate Development Committee meetings are open to all residents who wish to observe the proceedings and minutes are publicly available.

F.I.R.S.T CALL is appointed as Independent Tenants and Leaseholders Advisors to provide information and advice to individual tenants and leaseholders in relation to regeneration proposals. They are based at 93 Woodberry Grove and available on Tuesday and Thursday between 3pm and 7pm. They can be contacted on 0208 809 7203.

For further information contact:

Amanda Murrell - Tel:020 8356 1670
Communication & Consultation Manager - Freephone:0800 694 2109
Woodberry Down Regeneration - Fax:020 8356 1677

Consultation Strategy (opens in a new window)

Resident Engagement (opens in a new window)

Estate Development Committee members (opens in a new window)