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Placemaking Case Studies

Beyond Housing

Loftus, Skinningrove and East Cleveland, England, UK – Beyond Housing

At a glance

Landlord: Beyond Housing.

Residents: Many long-term residents. Low turnover with moderate demand. Many residents have disabilities.

Estate size and type: Series of scattered communities. Mix of Victorian terraces, former council housing, and newer replacement family houses.

Background

Loss of heavy industry is no new thing in East Cleveland. It was happening throughout the last century as the local ironstone mining faded away and pits closed, the last in 1965. Then Skinningrove’s steel plate mill also came under threat. And the fishing industry is a ghost of its former self.

The cluster of villages that sustained these industries still house a substantial population, and many are residents of Beyond Housing, which took the transferred stock of the local council, or one of the other housing associations working in the area. Today, there is a promising tourist trade as people call in on the long-distance Cleveland Way walk; and a new potash mine is due to open not far away. But these cannot replace the mass employment of former years.

Lack of public transport is a huge problem, limiting residents’ ability to access well paid work on Teesside or elsewhere. So lack of employment, and the poverty that goes with it, are very much on the minds of service providers.

One-to-one employment support

Beyond Housing has responded with initiatives to support what it regards as a ‘lovely, solid community’. First, there is one-to-one support for households with an unemployed member. The service was originally established via European Social Fund funding and is now delivered in-house as part of the core team. Staff work with households over time to help them take opportunities, and also support them with paying their rent and bills, maximising income, or tackling other difficulties as needed.

Social value embedded in contracts

A large regeneration project in Loftus was used as an exemplar for achieving added social value.

The former Westfield council estate, now known as Hummersea Hills, had long suffered from poor quality and inward-facing Radburn layout. Working with the community, Beyond Housing demolished most of it and rebuilt high quality new family homes – interestingly, including terraced housing.

The development contract stipulated that the builders must hit targets for local employment and skills training, plus apprenticeships. The developers responded with school visits and other get-to-know-you actions.

A joint event on Loftus High Street to showcase skills and work in building, design and allied professions drew massive participation from a community desperate for opportunities.

Beyond Housing has followed up by embedding social value requirements on all contracts.

Employment opportunities and partnerships

It has taken similar requirements to heart for its own organisation. Currently the association is supporting more than 30 apprenticeships at any one time, including taking on at least 10 this year. They are in a mix of office and trades skills, and there are opportunities for work experience and volunteering too.

Among the latest initiatives is to work with in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland Council and the local town council who have purchased a woodland of almost 5 acres near Loftus. The partnership was enabled via a £125,000 grant from Defra plus match funding worth £20,000, £30,000 and £50,000 from Beyond Housing, Esh Construction and Groundwork NE & Cumbria. The scheme is offering skills, training and employment on forestry work in the creation of a community woodland park. The work in Loftus is part of a jigsaw of investment under a masterplan from the local council and partners, part of which involves celebrating the town’s history and heritage.

Consultation with tenants

Beyond Housing has moved away from traditional forms of resident involvement such as committees, because they were felt to be too narrow in scope. Today the association consults regularly with samples of all tenants, which can number from a dozen to several thousand. There are digital and non-digital feedback systems, plus focus groups, and the association feels it is a much better approach to get tenants’ voices heard, especially in rural areas.

Data driven decision making

Beyond Housing takes measurement of success seriously and aims to be ‘data driven’ in its decision making. It models the social value obtained in terms of better mental health, work and confidence of residents for each cash amount invested. Using a ‘shape tool’ it can measure financial/economic impact such as net present value of assets on the one hand, and social change among customers on the other. It also prides itself on being able to reach a granular level of understanding based on residents’ feedback. Impact can be at a very small scale and extremely local, but that is the right level to be both working with residents and measuring success, it believes.

• Where transport is a problem in isolated places, the work and skills training needs to come to the community. Beyond Housing’s Employability Service works with customers in their local community.

• Highly personal and individualised approach to supporting residents, particularly those who are unemployed.

• Offering skills and employment opportunities within own organisation.

• Investing in wider community initiatives, drawing on partnership to lever in resources.

• Social value commitment on all contracts.

• Consumer style approach to resident involvement and feedback.

• Data-driven approach to decision making with strong attention to granular level social land community metrics.

This section includes information about the local area from the Office of National Statistics, including deprivation statistics for Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs). LSOAs provide measures of socio-economic conditions by geographic area.

Skinningrove – Redcar & Cleveland LSOA 013A*

Income deprivationwithin 10% most deprived neighbourhoods
Employment deprivationwithin 10% most deprived neighbourhoods
Education, skills and trainingwithin 10% most deprived neighbourhoods
Health and disabilitywithin 10% most deprived neighbourhoods
Crimewithin 30% most deprived neighbourhoods
Income deprivation affecting childrenwithin 10% most deprived neighbourhoods
Income deprivation affecting older peoplewithin 20% most deprived neighbourhoods
Overallwithin 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England & Wales and some parts within 10% most deprived
* ONS Indices of Multiple Deprivation ranking 2019

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This project was made possible by funds provided by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) under the NSW Community Housing Industry Development Strategy (IDS). The NSW Community Housing IDS is a partnership between CHIA NSW and DCJ.