Pride in Place: Views from Northern Communities Goes National

Last month the Northern Housing Consortium and partners presented the findings of Pride in Place: Views from Northern Communities to a national online audience of around 400 people. The session was organised as part of the Homes England Autumn Learning Programme. Organised by Homes England’s Local Government Capacity Centre, the periodic learning programmes aim to support Local Governments, Housing Associations, and wider partners to create thriving places through knowledge exchange and sharing good practice.

As part of the session, the NHC discussed the continuing relevance of ‘pride in place’ and the interrelationship between physical and social regeneration, community empowerment, and how they both relate to identity and belonging. In taking part in the Learning Series, the NHC underlined the importance of its membership of Housing Associations, Local Authorities, Combined Authorities, and ALMO’s to Homes England’s Mission of creating high quality homes and thriving places; supporting greater social justice and creating places people are proud to call home.

Through Pride in Place, the NHC and partners brought together social and private rented sector residents to discuss what makes a great place to live, and how residents, NHC members, and other stakeholders can work together to deliver on local priorities. Attendees heard how participants identified the following priorities:

Public Spaces and Opportunities for Neighbourliness

Residents wanted to see their areas celebrate the local community.

This meant making the most of an area’s heritage. Ensuring historic buildings, landmarks, and green spaces were not just well maintained but enhanced as public spaces for people to use and enjoy.

It meant getting to know people in an area and building on history with a celebration of different cultures as well. Diversity of the local population was consistently cited as one of many reasons people were proud of their area. Whilst concerns over integration were raised, this fuelled a desire on the part of residents to see more opportunities to bring different cultures together.

Together, it was felt that these things would promote community spirit across generations and cultures, increasing social connection but also tackling loneliness and isolation.

Sense of Community and Decision Making

Residents saw clear roles for national and local government, civil society, and communities themselves in how areas were governed. But wanted to see more cohesive joint working between each and told us further support was needed to truly empower residents to set and deliver on their priorities.

Participants wanted improved dialogue with anchor institutions like Housing Associations, Councils, or other public services. They felt better joint working and outreach to residents could provide clarity on how and where communities could be more involved in their areas.

In doing this, neighbourhood groups could expand, or be established, to play a leadership role, upskilling residents and opening up funding opportunities in the process.

A Foundation of Decent Housing and Decent Public Services

Finally, as much as people had a desire to be involved in how areas could be improved, they were clear that a starting point for their quality of life was the ability to access what they saw as the fundamentals; decent affordable housing in clean, safe neighbourhoods, employment opportunities, and healthcare; all part of a wider public service system they currently saw as fragmented, under-resourced, and not visible in the community.

In reflecting on this, the devolution agenda was identified as being central to delivering on the priorities people had for their areas: encouraging sustainable funding for key institutions and their efforts to build homes and regenerate neighbourhoods, supporting greater collaboration in the way local stakeholders work together, and opening a path for the double devolution of powers and responsibility through to communities themselves.

Overall, Pride in Place: Views from Northern Communities underlined the important role NHC members play in their areas. Not just in building homes and regenerating neighbourhoods but ensuring residents can enjoy their lives in well-designed place with access to the kinds of employment, wellbeing, social and cultural opportunities that make an area thrive.

The session highlighted good work already taking place and underlined what an ambitious sector, backed by Government, could achieve both directly and through empowered communities.