Community Estate Improvement Group

We are working with the South West Housing Team to establish a Community Estate Improvement Group (CEIG) for Wester Hailes and the Calders, to facilitate transparent, inclusive and collaborative community-led discussion, planning, and approval of future public realm improvements.

Background

The majority of the land in Wester Hailes and the Calders is owned and managed by the Council’s housing department on what is called the ‘Housing Revenue Account’, (HRA), the graphic shows HRA land in pink.

CEC Housing set aside a capital budget for the improvement of HRA land, called the Estates Improvement Programme (EIP).  In past years, there was a South West Area Board which decided how the EIP budget should be spent.  Several Wester Hailes tenants and residents associations were represented.  

Since then participation has declined, occasionally Housing Officers will arrange walkabouts, surgeries and architect delivered public realm studies with residents, but participation has been low, and not facilitated a community process.

It is our view that some of the EIP projects that resulted within this period were ill advised, particularly the ‘seadecking’ of many areas of greenspace in Wester Hailes, resulting in the removal of mature trees and shrubs and tarmacing of greenspace.

What’s Next

Recently, the Council has been reviewing the Estates Improvement Programme, it’s principles and how best to involve residents in identifying projects, their goals are :-

• Creating and improving HRA open space land and public realm that residents can enjoy and feel proud of.  Improving land corridors, pathways, thoroughfares and lighting designed with the importance of resident & pedestrian safety.  Delivering projects that stand out and get people talking – creative projects that deliver the feel good factor and bring the community together.
• To encourage more tenants and wider community stakeholders to play an active role in project nomination, design, delivery, quality and value for money.  Better communication, improved tenant feedback around satisfaction and improved information as to how projects are delivered.
• To invest HRA income responsibly, responsively and creatively within our estates, addressing climate pressures, where we can and creating cared for spaces that harnesses opportunities for improved greening and biodiversity.

Towards these goals the Council have proposed the creation of Community Estate Improvement Group’s across the city.

Wester Hailes Growers are liaising with Wester Hailes Community Trust (WHCT) Council officers and local councillors to establish a CEIG for Wester Hailes and the Calders with a view to encourage and empower residents to take an active role in overseeing the local decision making that impacts their communities.

Once established, the Group’s role would be to discuss and make proposals and decisions regarding potential projects. It would approve projects to proceed to design stage, review progress, and review residents’ satisfaction with completed projects.

Our hope is that the resulting projects would responsibly invest HRA income in establishing and developing Wester Hailes open spaces in creative ways that bring the community together with a renewed sense of care, pride and enjoyment, improving resident safety, prioritising climate and biodiversity where possible, and reducing food poverty.

If you want to find out more and get involved in decision making about how the public realm in your community is managed and improved, please get in touch.

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