Policy Hub
21 November 2006, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) published a report (Twenty-five years on twenty estates: turning the tide?) which says that, twenty-five years ago, they were unpopular council estates, suffering from poor management, dilapidated environments, bad reputations and high proportions of empty homes. Today, after spending on homes and environments, more intensive neighbourhood management and long-standing community involvement, most of them appear to be turning the tide. This report examines the key changes and what lies behind them, from national policy to community activity. It also captures the impact of the recent strong economy and housing market on the estates.
This is the largest research project of its kind, tracking progress on the estates since 1980. The estates have been tracked through visits and interviews in 1982, 1988, 1994 and 2005. This report comments on progress over that period, with a focus on the last 10 years, when unemployment rates on the estates dropped dramatically, from 34% of residents in 1991 to 16% in 2001. GSCE performance at estate-linked schools improved between 1994 and 2004, at a faster rate than national results. Housing management performance in the estates improved, with fewer empty homes, better repairs services and better-kept environments. Resident satisfaction rates on the estates are now close to the average for social housing.
The full report can be viewed on the JRf website