During 2009, the GreenSquare Group employed four residents in the new role of ‘Resident Design Advisor’. The Group, which was formed in 2008, last year received a major investment of £28m to build 519 homes over the next 3 years.
Wiltshire based Westlea Housing Association, part of the group, has a history of strong commitment to resident involvement and has had a resident design panel up and running for many years.
All of the resident design advisors have great enthusiasm for housing development and design - the team includes a retired senior planner and a local councillor with a wealth of knowledge of housing and planning issues. All are able to bring valuable knowledge as residents to the table.
They will work together as a team as well as join project teams for local developments in their respective areas. Their role will evolve over the next year; duties will include involving other residents by attending focus groups, resident association meetings, scheme consultations, and the residents’ conference.
The advisors also plan to engage with residents through surveys, newsletters such as the ‘Home’ magazine, the website, community centres and notice boards.
Views can be fed back to the organisation and its residents through the Design Panel, the District Forum and the Board of Management, which will ultimately improve the service.
The advisors will receive ongoing training to develop their knowledge and skills further, in line with current practice.
They have already attended a 3 day course ‘Talking to Developers’ which through a series of workshops explored all aspects of housing development, equipping them with knowledge of current housing standards, design and space issues, planning for housing, housing need, construction, and the development process.
Training included workshops on the latest Housing Quality Indicators, Building for Life Criteria and the Code for Sustainable Homes using a worked example of Braydon Court - a major regeneration project in Swindon with 38 new affordable homes due for completion during 2010.
For more information on this course, guidance or training, please contact Jacqui Rhodes at J Rhodes Associates - telephone: 07706 981008, e mail: jacqui@jra.vpweb.co.uk or visit www.jra.vpweb.co.uk
