We have had the pleasure of working for the Byker Community Trust (BCT), now part of Karbon Homes, on the Grade II* listed Byker estate since 2014. The latest project involves the design of improvements to the outdoor spaces on the estate, the brief for which has been developed as a result of extensive resident and stakeholder engagement and alongside a Steering Group of tenants to gain insight on the environmental issues affecting the Estate and their preferred options to resolve these.

With landscape architects Glen Kemp, we have developed a masterplan for improvements across the whole estate addressing the identified priorities including waste management, creation of safe play and open spaces, improved fencing and soft landscaping. Close liaison with the local authority and Historic England has been required to ensure that any changes enhance and protect the heritage significance of the estate.

The improvements will be delivered in phases over several years with Phase 1, a waste management pilot study, having completed in 2023.

Michelle Bell, Assistant Director Byker Community at Karbon Homes, said, “It’s great to see the delivery of these improvements get underway. Customers living in Byker told us their main priority was waste management, so we’re tackling this first and we’ll use these as pilots, gathering feedback from our customers living in these areas, before rolling out waste management improvements across the estate.

“Dunn Terrance will also be the first neighbourhood to benefit from other improvements including increased play provision for children and young people, fencing replacement and tree management. We’ve invited all customers living in this area to give us their views and feedback on the proposed designs for their neighbourhood.”