Through the eighties and into the nineties the Castle Vale Estate was an infamous area of high unemployment, poor health, low educational attainment, and high crime with a very poor image which had been picked up by the national and local media.

The Castle Vale HAT set out to change this situation but was initially unpopular with residents – it needed to find a way to engage them.

This case study focuses on Castle Vale Housing Action Trust (HAT). The HAT was initially unpopular with residents but through genuine community involvement and empowerment it came to be viewed as one of the country's most successful regeneration projects. The case study sets out some of the key learning points that can be drawn from their experience.

Castle Vale HAT set about changing its image with a holistic and inclusive agenda. It was holistic as it invested in and worked with:

It was inclusive as the team made sure there was resident involvement and empowerment, with residents sitting on all HAT committees and working groups. There were monthly consultative meetings between HAT directors, tenants and the Residents Alliance.

The Castle Vale HAT became one of the country's most successful regeneration projects. Resident involvement and empowerment was key to their success as was their holistic approach. Unemployment in the ward of Kingsbury where Castle Vale is located fell from 26% in 1993 to 6% in 2004. The area has witnessed too a steady growth in the demand to live in Castle Vale.

Residents were offered the choice of being part of a Housing Association or returning to Council control at the end of CVHAT project. 94% of residents chose to remain under the Housing Association.

Residents of Castle Vale Estate are the main beneficiaries.

Regen WM
enquiries@regenwm.org

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case

Urban Policy > Housing > Housing management

Tenant management