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Changing hearts and minds on estate regeneration

Leeds Federated

3. residents talking with termrim and matthew walker

Leeds Federated is a housing association with around 4,500 properties and a social purpose to help people make a home through its three main objectives: sustain, engage and grow.

The Brief

To develop and manage a communications campaign for the regeneration of the Sugar Hill Close and Wordsworth Drive estate, replacing former Coal Board homes that no longer met modern day housing standards.

Our objectives were to ensure Leeds Federated’s plans were clearly communicated, to build trust with the local community that had been involved in a longer running campaign in opposition to the regeneration project, as well as positively raising the profile of the client for similar future projects.

“See Media has been integral to the success of a complex regeneration scheme where existing resident and neighbourhood communications needed to be carefully and sensitively managed. The team’s guidance in developing a detailed communications strategy and then assisting in the production of regular communications, site events, resident meetings and press releases ensured that we had a planned and proactive approach throughout.”

Georgina Nijjar

Head of Development, Leeds Federated

What we did

Conducted in-depth discussions with the Leeds Federated team to produce a detailed comms plan including comms objectives, target audiences and key dates.

Devised a media response protocol including an agreed media response team, protocol for handling enquiries and preparing messaging and responses to likely media enquiries. See Media also delivered bespoke one-to-one media training in preparation for local broadcast interviews.

Due to strength of feeling locally for the preservation of the estate, we proposed a campaign idea to create a piece of public art on the development hoarding. Working with the local community, the finished mural celebrates the legacy of the original estate in a vibrant, modern way.

We also worked with Leeds Federated to create ideas to promote key project milestones, ensuring the local community was engaged and kept up to date.

As part of this, we developed ‘project champion’ case studies, identifying key individuals to tell the real story of the positive impact of the regeneration project on the area.

Created a regularly updated mini website for residents, journalists and the local community using Foleon – a hub for site-specific FAQs, local updates, development information and contact details.

image of hoarding on site
049 0224 sugar hill moving in dec 2024 (1)
1. residents with representatives from leeds federated, termrim and leeds city council

Results

The campaign completely changed the hearts and minds of the residents being moved out of, and back into the new homes on the Sugar Hill close and Wordsworth Drive estate.

From the formation of an earlier ‘Save our Homes’ action group due to the negativity around the estate regeneration, the campaign and the work of the Leeds Federated team has transformed the relationship between resident and landlord, resulting in an excited and reassured group of residents.

The local community has come together to celebrate the fantastic new estate, engaging with projects such as the development hoarding. The residents, who have now moved into their regenerated homes, are thrilled with their new homes and have formed positive, lasting relationships with the Leeds Federated team.

To hear what the residents had to say in anticipation of moving into their new homes, click here.

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