Shaping Shrublands
Creative engagement programme to build the brief and capacity for community-led housing in Croydon
Shrublands Estate in Croydon was built between the 1950 and 1960s on a former golf course. It is bounded by woodlands to its south, east and west sides and by suburban streets lined with semi-detached houses to its north.
The area is characterised by a mixture of three to four storey blocks of flats and two storey terraced houses with private gardens. There is a mixture of private and council ownership.
New Practice was commissioned by Brick By Brick and Croydon Council to deliver a programme of resident engagement across the Shrublands Estate.
The programme centred on gathering feedback from residents on the present condition of the estate as well as generating conversation around future development proposals and presenting ideas around the potential for community-led housing.
Our approach ensured that engagement was active, not passive, working closely alongside Brick By Brick, Croydon Council and Mae Architects - the appointed design team for the Shrublands Estate Masterplan.
The programme took place between November 2019 and April 2020 and began with engaging active members of the community in one-to-one interviews.
Conversations were then opened up more broadly across the estate through the delivery of walk-around activities and facilitated workshops.
Our resident engagement programme was promoted under the heading ‘Shaping Shrublands’ and used a bold project identity and multifaceted communications strategy to raise awareness across the estate. A bespoke designed project website project reached over 400 local visitors.
A Community Event was planned for late March. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, an alternative remote engagement activity replaced this event. The content of conversations and prepared engagement materials were combined into an information booklet which provided residents with both digital and analogue routes to provide further feedback on proposed development and community-led housing.
image credit: Brick by Brick
Client: Brick by Brick and Croydon Council
Location: London, UK
Completion: 2020
Collaborators: Mae Architects