Witton Lodge Community Association: making a success of community ownership

Objectives

Perry Common faced serious challenges in the 1990s. There was no longer any central government financing to rebuild the large social housing estate. Furthermore, no community-wide organisation existed to represent the interests of residents. Four residents associations had been created in the north, east, south and west of the area but these had been created essentially as overnight ‘gut reactions’ to fight the impending demolition of dwellings on the estate.  At this point, residents lacked confidence, motivation, and capacity to make their community healthier, safer and sustainable.