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Masterplanning a change in tenure, Bristol

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Bristol's Barton Hill, a new deal for communities area, is undergoing a masterplanning exercise to determine its future housing mix. Using the one-off opportunity of significant funding, it can plan a change in the mix of tenures, bringing in and retaining more economically active residents to make the area more sustainable and reduce high turnover. There will be a decreased emphasis on social housing and more shared ownership and an opportunity to use new streetscapes to enhance security. But challenges remain. Nearby private housing development in the fashionable riverside area of Temple Quays could have a significant impact on whatever happens in Barton Hill. Meanwhile there has been a mixed reception to plans to increase home ownership and to switch housing management from the city council to a neighbourhood management model
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FOUR years into a ten year New Deal for Communities [NDC] project, an overall masterplan is being finalised to transform the Barton Hill part of Bristol. Here over three quarters of existing social housing is made up of one or two bedroom flats, mostly in high rise blocks. There's a 20% turnover of tenants every year.

Fear of crime and safety issues are high on the agenda for residents. A major long term aim of the masterplanning process is to encourage existing families to stay in the area. It's also to attract in people who positively choose to live and put their roots down in Barton Hill. At present it has a reputation of being a place where you go temporarily to become a council tenant, then apply to transfer out. That isn't building a sustainable community.

Residents are being consulted up to the end of 2004. The process is aimed at building up the capacity for self-management for those who rent from the council. 'For 50 years they have experienced a rather paternalistic council landlord, taking decisions on their behalf,' says the NDC director David Ralph. 'With NDC, opportunities are now rushing in, and key decisions taken now will hugely affect future generations living here.'

Moving towards a more mixed, stable and safe community is a key element of the masterplan. There will be:

  • a shift in tenure, with home ownership, including shared ownership, boosted from 50% to 71%
  • CCTV in every remaining block (eight blocks after demolition of two)
  • 'defensible space' around each block
  • tenant management (if wanted) of existing housing association and transferred city council homes
  • new build of 160 2/3/4 bedroom homes within 5 years, and up to 200 additional ones in the following 10 years for shared ownership or rent
  • two new roads mainly for pedestrians
  • a central village green
  • a merger of the existing three primary schools into one that becomes a first choice of parents.
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