Caring for Communities

Our communities are changing rapidly. We are living longer, we have a more multicultural society and changes to our family and working lives all mean different needs in terms of housing, education, health and social care. Taking these views into account when planning construction and regeneration projects is essential if we want to create more inclusive, happy, healthy and successful communities. I’m lucky enough to be involved in this decision making every day in my role as the leader of Rydon’s Resident Liaison team.

Construction and maintenance projects often mean dust, noise, road closures and disruption for residents. Many companies provide updates on timing and technical details but in the rush to complete a job quickly, they don’t always take the time to consult residents on building and development design, the amenities they’d like to see or on the issues which matter day-to-day such as parking, pedestrian access and site set-up locations.

From my very first project on the Ring Cross Estate near Caledonian Road, I was able to prioritise the needs of different residents. Rydon was appointed by the local authority to replace the windows in 300 homes. As I started visiting residents, I could see some were in greater need – whether it was families with young children or elderly residents, and I was able to advise the site manager on the best way to phase the work. I quickly saw the tangible difference it made to people’s quality of life.

Creating a positive environment, sensitive to the local community’s needs, is at the heart of Rydon’s approach. The resident liaison team is involved in every single project, whether it is large or small and whether it is a new build or a refurbishment programme. We participate in all the same meetings as the technical team, so that local concerns and priorities are part of every design and construction decision.

A great example of this is the regeneration of Packington Estate in the heart of Islington, London. The project is reviving a former council estate, where the existing buildings of poor quality design and build were compounding social problems and leading to a fragmented community. The regeneration project made sure residents were involved from the outset in each phase of the development, with local views shaping the decision to use bricks and mortar to blend in with other housing in the area and the delivery of more open, public spaces to create more opportunities for people to meet and foster a sense of community with the wider neighborhood.

My team also arranged translation services so that different ethnic groups living on the estate also had full information about the project and could contribute. We held regular resident drop-ins, including coffee mornings but also weekend and evening sessions to cater for those who work. At the completion of each phase of the project, we also held celebration days for the residents, which really helped locals feel part of the estate’s transformation. A team of professional car washers was also hired to clean the resident’s cars on Friday afternoons after the week’s construction work, so they were clean for the weekend.

Our team worked closely with Jan Durbridge, a resident and Chair of the Packington Regeneration Board throughout the project, and she says “Having lived at Packington for over 30 years, I’ve seen a lot of changes. Whilst it was sad to see the decline of the old buildings and the rise in problems on the estate, the sense of community has always been strong and ensured the opportunity to revitalise the neighbourhood in the right way was welcomed with open arms. The visible transformation of Packington is in the buildings but for the people who live here, the transformation goes beyond that. Everyone was so involved throughout the decision-making that it gives us all a sense of pride.”

Spending time with residents every day reminds me of the impact our communities have on our life chances, health and wellbeing. We need to accelerate the development of new homes, schools and hospitals to meet demand, but whilst capacity is important, taking the time to care for communities is essential to address wider societal needs to shape a positive, lasting impact on people’s lives.

Nikki Donnelly
Resident Liaison Manager, Rydon

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