It has been a difficult time for cities such as Birmingham in the wake of the credit crunch and economic slowdown. The operating environment for local government and the housing, voluntary and community sectors presents challenges for those of us committed to providing quality, affordable housing and helping to improve the life chances of tenants and highly disadvantaged communities.
The effects of growing unemployment, entrenched and long-term deprivation in some inner-city neighbourhoods, and last year's riots, can sometimes distort our view of city life. Despite the challenges we face, Birmingham and other English cities have shining examples of successful regeneration of housing and neighbourhoods, built on partnership, local projects and the undimmed spirit of people living in social housing. A report by independent thinktank the Human City Institute highlights one of these regeneration successes in Birmingham.
The HCI report, which explores community, ethnicity and cohesion on the Waterworks estate in Ladywood, shows what can be achieved through the 'big society' with local government working with voluntary and community agencies, the police and residents to turn around a neighbourhood in one of the most deprived wards in England. HCI's community-based research, engaging with local agencies and people, illustrates the importance of the vision at the heart of the Birmingham housing plan: that housing will provide the platform which enables people to thrive and choose to live in the city.
The research illustrates how council officers have acted as a focal point for improving the quality of life on the estate. The result has been concerted action over the last three years against two of the estate's main social problems: drug dealing and prostitution. Crack houses have been shut down and sex workers, often drug dependent, have been helped off the streets rather than just being moved on elsewhere.
Despite considerable deprivation, the estate shows high levels of community cohesion: strengths include a real sense of pride and compassion that crosses ethnic boundaries. The estate also benefits from the activities of a range of organisations working in concert to improve quality of life with the help of a supportive local authority committed to the idea of a big society.
Area improvement requires active residents, but they cannot act in isolation. Effective change requires partnerships across the sectors, and agencies who are based in the community for the long term.
Social investment and small actions that accumulate and generate momentum can have a major impact – regeneration doesn't have to be about big interventions.
A key ingredient in the estate's successful regeneration has been what HCI calls the "hidden assets" of active local people willing to work with the council to achieve a remarkable transformation. As one resident quoted in the report says: "It's a great community to live in because we all support each other."
This chimes with the Birmingham's Big City, Big Society prospectus and the commitment from communities to "drive forward new and improved ways of doing things". This important research shows that people living on the Waterworks estate can, with support, continue to improve the quality of life of their community into the future.
Elaine Elkington is strategic director for homes and neighbourhoods at Birmingham city council
This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. Join the housing network for more comment, analysis and best practice direct to your inbox
