The partners behind an ambitious project to transform one of the most deprived parts of the city are celebrating the scheme’s award of a top accolade.
The Summerfield ‘eco neighbourhood’ project – the largest of its kind in the UK and the first in Birmingham - has just scooped the ‘community involvement and engagement’ award at the 2009 Inside Housing Sustainable Housing Awards.
Following consultation with homeowners and the Summerfield Residents Association, bodies tasked with regenerating the area including, Urban Living, Family Housing Association (Birmingham) and Birmingham City Council - joined forces to create a £2.3 million programme designed to raise awareness of sustainability issues.
Highlights included solar panels and low-energy heating being installed in more than 300 homes, the creation of an ‘eco office’ showcasing best environmental practice and projects with local schoolchildren including the creation of an ‘eco’ website and radio station.
Street improvements were also carried out as part of the scheme and contractors were commissioned to provide trainee placements for unemployed local people.
The project has had a huge impact on the lives of residents, with attitudes to green issues transformed and energy bills plummeting.
Such has been the scheme’s success it is now being adopted as a best-practice model for other areas of the city, such as Lozells.
For Urban Living director of programme & performance Steve Lilley, working with residents and partnership working has been imperative to the project’s success.He said: ”We’re delighted with this award, especially as the eco-activities in the Summerfield area were resident inspired. The partners worked together to deliver a community inspired vision and it paid off. The scheme has been such a success that Urban Living is now rolling out similar activities in other parts of the city.”
Organised by Inside Housing magazine and its sister publication Footprint, the Sustainable Housing Awards are considered to be the ‘oscars’ of the community housing industry and were presented at a ceremony hosted by Channel Four News presenter Jon Snow last week (Friday, October 23).
Footprint editor Philippa Ward said: “In tough economic times, it is crucial that the housing sector continues to lead the way on green issues. There is a lot to learn from and admire in those shortlisted - and even more so in the impressive set of winning entries.”
The Sustainable Housing Award is the third for Summerfield project which was also the winner of public sector category in the 2008 National Energy Efficiency Awards.