Social Housing Land
Overview
Social housing land managers have a responsibility not just for meeting the housing needs of their tenants, but also for helping to build healthy, sustainable and cohesive communities. As a result, housing associations are increasingly finding that food growing projects can be an excellent way of contributing to these goals.
This trend is becoming more apparent on housing estates, which often have large, underused green spaces. Here social housing providers and their tenants are working together to set up joint initiatives to grow food.
A report called Growing Round the Houses, produced by the Women's Environmenal Network and Sustain, recommends that social housing managers support residents through designating land and providing resources such as compost, materials for constructing raised beds and tools. It also recommends that they provide a contract, which secures the food growing site for residents.
Caroline Fernandez, Local Food Project Coordinator of the Women's Environmental Network (WEN), comments: "There is a movement towards people wanting to be more sustainable, wanting to know where their food comes from and being able to grow it themselves. It's better for them, it's cheaper and once they get involved they find it's good fun. A lot of social landlords are being approached by people who want to grow food on their land. Often that land is derelict or may have been used as a dumping ground or is not very attractive. So there is an incentive for social landlords to work with their tenants in developing land into a productive space.”
On existing developments, one of the biggest hurdles is negotiating and agreeing an area of land on the estate to use. A suitable area (an overgrown corner, an underused expanse of grass) needs to be identified and then residents consulted. This avoids potential conflict where the earmarked land is discovered to be a favourite children’s play space, or a haven for wildlife.
For new housing development, community groups may be able to negotiate directly with developers or in conjunction with the local authority to get land and/or the necessary infrastructure for a community growing space (raised beds, soil, landscaping) through a Section 106 agreement. It is important for community groups to engage in the planning process in its early stages, and they will need to make the case for allocation of space and funds.
Social housing landlords can often provide small start-up grants for equipment like tools, seeds and a shed; but they will usually need to seek external funding, or help in kind, for projects that involve land clearance and landscaping.
Case Study
Cornwall Neighbourhoods 4 Change
The project began in spring 2009 and supports families living in social housing to make the most of their garden spaces. Many social housing properties in Cornwall have decent sized gardens and there is a lot of land within estates that could be used for food growing. The initial focus has been on training in home growing and food composting. It will then be working with groups to capacity-build and support six community garden projects across the county.
Other Examples
Trident House, Birmingham
Tenants have been working alongside Connaught Partnerships and Trident Housing to transform an area, previously used for fly tipping, into a community vegetable garden. The space was identified as the perfect place for tenants to plant vegetables and bring some much-needed greenery to the high rise block, which is home to 300 residents.
Pennine Housing, Halifax
Pennine Housing is Calderdale's largest social landlord. The organisation is encouraging tenants to grow plants on patios, balconies and windowsills with their “Edible Pennine” growing starter packs.
Brookwood Edible Garden, Southwark, London
The garden was created beside a social housing block, turning an underused area of grass into a completely edible garden for residents to enjoy. American artist, Haeg, worked in collaboration with residents, the Tate Modern and Bankside Open Spaces Trust to create the garden.
Clay Farm Development, Cambridge
An example of where allotment and community garden provision has been incorporated into new housing developments. Permission has been granted for property developer, Countryside Properties, to build 2,300 new homes including 40% affordable housing. Plans for the site incorporate public open spaces, including allotments.
Growing Round the Houses: Food production on housing estate land
A joint briefing by Sustain and Women’s Environmental Network (June 2008).The paper provides information for social landlords, planners and developers, and residents, giving detailed case studies, further resources and recommendations.
Finding the Plot
A summary report of an event jointly organised by Women’s Environmental Network and Sustain’s Local Action on Food Network, on accessing land for food growing groups. The report includes case studies and useful contacts.
Other Resources
In many cases a third party organisation may play a role in setting up and/or managing food growing areas on housing estates. This help can vary, but could include negotiating with the social landlord/local authority; or bringing and sharing practical skills.
Women's Environmental Network (WEN)
www.wen.org.uk
Offers advice and support to residents and community groups on negotiating the use of land, including writing to the landlord in support of the project, and to landlords on ensuring that projects meet local needs.
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020 7481 9004
Neighbourhoods Green
www.neighbourhoodsgreen.org.uk
Raises awareness of the importance of green spaces for the residents of social housing, and provides guidance on the quality of their design and management.
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Planning Aid
www.planningaid.rtpi.org.uk
Provides free, independent and professional help, advice and support on planning issues to people and communities who cannot afford to hire a planning consultant. See the website for regional contacts.
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0121 214 2900
Local Action on Food Network
www.sustainweb.org/localactiononfood/
Supports local and regional activity promoting healthy and sustainable food. It represents and helps members of the network, by running projects, organising events, and sharing good practice. Its activity is coordinated by Sustain.
020 7837 1228
The Transition Town movement
www.transitionnetwork.org
Is increasingly getting involved in food projects and community groups may be able to find support from a local transition town food group. For example, the Abundance Project, based on a Guinness Trust estate in Brixton, London, has been helped by members of Transition Town Brixton.
Capital Growth (London only)
www.capitalgrowth.org/
twitter.com/Capital_Growth
Aims to help Londoners create 2,012 new community food growing spaces by 2012. The campaign offers practical support, helping people get access to land. Capital Growth is coordinated by London Food Link.
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