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Manor and Castle Green Estate

Sheffield

Manor and Castle green estate

Evaluation

The locally rooted partnership approach demonstrates the strength gained when multiple agencies work together closely with the community over an extended period of time.

Third sector leadership

The third-sector leadership shown at the outset of the Green Estate programme has been instrumental in its success.

It gave the flexibility to create a sustainable, social enterprise business. This sustainable approach is critical for social regeneration, a process that does not happen quickly. Over the 10 years of the Green Estate programme progress has been made, but managers acknowledge that there is much more to do.

The involvement of the Manor and Castle Development Trust with its multi-faceted regeneration themes provided reassurance that investing in green infrastructure would achieve social and economic outcomes. This enabled regeneration funding to be secured, overcoming the danger that it might be seen only as an ‘environmental project’.

Quality of relationships

The exceptional quality of the relationships between key individuals has created a ‘can do’ working environment.

The interpersonal dimension, sometimes overlooked, is strongly evident and has provided the glue in the partnership. This has involved staff, volunteers, Sheffield City Council officers and local councillors.

A number of key individuals have been in post for a considerable time and developed a passion for the programme, local knowledge and community awareness. They have become advocates for the transformational change happening in the Manor and Castle wards.

Social enterprise

As a social enterprise business, Green Estate Ltd is an outstanding example of how to capitalise on a ‘value-added’ approach.

  • there has been a significant inward flow of investment that would not have otherwise been secured by local authorities
  • it is also a vehicle fit for several green infrastructure purposes, including funding applications, visioning, planning, delivery and maintenance
  • the change from ‘programme’ to ‘social enterprise partnership’ was not without its challenges, but is a considerable success. The Green Estate team have a clearly stated vision - ‘making a difference through landscape and heritage’ - and simple objectives.