Key Facts

• Optima was founded in June 1999 after residents voted with a clear majority (62.1%) to transfer stock to an independent, charitable social landlord, Optima Community Association.
• Our remit is to carry out the regeneration of five former council estates.
• Tenant satisfaction has risen dramatically from 58% in 2002 to 90% in 2006.
• Optima has 1,600 homes mainly in high rise blocks.
• Optima’s 15 strong Board of Management is made up of seven tenant Board members who are elected to their posts by other tenants.
• We refurbished 1,150 homes, demolished 1,400 and will build a total of 1,122 brand new homes for rent. 250 will be for shared ownership. All our homes exceed the government’s Decent Homes standard.
• There are four residents’ associations and a neighbourhood forum.
• Together with our private sector partners and the local authority, an estimated £350 million will have been invested in the area.
• Private sector developments will create 2,560 new homes for owner occupation.
• A dedicated recycling facility means over 90% of demolition and excavation material is being reused.
• Funding sources include £46 million from central government, £66 million loan funding from the Nationwide Building Society and Housing Corporation grant.
• Area plan

Our History

Optima is a community driven housing association.  We own five Birmingham housing estates: Benmore, Cleveland and Clydesdale Towers, Five Ways, Lee Bank and Woodview.  These are known collectively as Attwood Green.  Sitting at a major gateway to the city centre core, this area was originally back-to-back houses, demolished for high rise and maisonette development in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.  With a new round of redevelopment Optima is creating a sustainable and vibrant mixed-use community with a long-term future.

In 1996 residents took matters into their own hands when they felt that their concerns about deteriorating housing stock weren't being acted on.  Staging sit-ins and rooftop protests they made sure that their stories were brought to a national audience.  City officials sat down with residents to work out a plan for the future that would real economic and social investment to the area.  In 1998 residents voted with a clear majority (62.1%) to transfer stock to an independent, charitable social landlord, Optima Community Association.

Optima was set up with charitable status in June 1999 and took ownership of 2,800 homes in a stock transfer from Birmingham City Council.  The transfer brought in money from the central government Estates Renewal Challenge Fund of £46 million.  We also have a £66 million loan facility from the Nationwide Building Society.

We are committed to community driven regeneration. Of 15 Directors on the Board, seven are tenants.  With residents we have created a major redevelopment programme to take place over a 10 year time table. Over 1150 homes have been fully improved. All our homes exceed the government’s Decent Homes standard. 1350 homes have been demolished and 1,122 new homes for rent are being built.

Demand for housing in the Attwood Green area was very low when Optima took over.  We have demolished unpopular or poor quality tower blocks and maisonettes. The included Birmingham’s first ever inner city explosive demolition of two multi-storey tower blocks. In their place we have built new low rise homes.  We have emptied all of the unsatisfactory or unpopular properties and by mid 2006 all will have been demolished.

Many families from the clearance areas have been involved in the planning and design process and have proudly returned to brand new homes with gardens. 

To build a mixed, sustainable community Attwood Green is providing homes for rent, to buy and for shared ownership.  Our new build  programme will provide 275 new houses and 847 new flats in a mixed use and mixed tenure development.

Optima has refurbished 1150 homes.  This includes external cladding for insulation, new windows, rewiring, and improvement of communal areas and grounds.  All of our tower blocks (as well as some of the low rise properties) in the refurbishment programme have had extensive external and internal works completed.  Our environmental works, as well as lifts and communal area improvements have been completed to very high standards.    

Residents have been closely involved in the selection of contractors and Optima has won national recognition for its partnering work. 

Improvements to cleaning and maintenance services began from day one of transfer.  We have undertaken a major review of our day-to-day repairs service with strong resident involvement, both in the reviewing process and setting up the new contract.  Monthly review and feedback meetings continue to take place to discuss how the service can be improved, making our repairs service 100% resident focused.  Residents groups have also been closely involved in planning and monitoring our security and concierge services. 

We realise that communities aren't just about houses; they're also about people.  The real measure of our success will be when residents play a full role in the social and economic life of their estates and their City.

With a range of organisations, we are implementing comprehensive social and economic programmes which will provide a range of choices and opportunities for local people. 

Optima's regeneration team have been successful in obtaining monies from major funding bodies to develop projects such as community wardens, health and education initiatives and training and employment partnerships.  Our regeneration programme successes were highlighted when Optima won the Chartered Institute of Housing award for Sustainable Communities in November 2002.

Private Sector Partnership

Attwood Green Phase 1: Park Central 

In 2001 we joined forces with Birmingham City Council to unveil one of Europe's biggest urban renaissance projects. Crest Nicholson Regeneration, were appointed to deliver phase one, Park Central.  Almost 500 new homes have now been completed for sale and for rent together with new roads, parks, lighting, offices and a hotel. 

For a more detailed look at the scheme click here.

Phase two of Attwood Green will provide over 300 new homes on our Woodview estate, through a development agreement with Persimmon Homes.  Over the 10 year period to 2011, over 3500 homes will be provided, of which around 1,122 will be for rent. 

Optima is proud to be at the forefront of Birmingham's urban renaissance.  Our aim is to transform the lives of residents with a sustainable, socially inclusive and above all community driven development. The Deputy Prime Minister's Award for Sustainable Communities recognises the value and quality of our achievement to date.

Awards

The Regeneration of Attwood Green won a string of awards from innovation to communication and our local residents are stars in their own right. Audrey Flash was made an MBE for her services to young people in the New Year Honours List 2006 and we celebrate the volunteer efforts of local people through our Making a Difference Award scheme which was held for the first time in 2005.

Residents

Audrey Flash

Pride of Britain Award, Best Neighbour 2004
MBE New Year Honours List 2006

Margaret Millard

Attwood Green Making a Difference Special Award 2005

Dot McKenzie

Attwood Green Making a Difference Award 2005

Carol Woolley

Attwood Green Making a Difference Award 2005

Julia Wagstaff

Outstanding Contribution to the Community. Attwood Green Making a Difference Award 2007

Mark Howard

Good Neighbour Award. Attwood Green Making a Difference Award 2007

Gemma Taylor

Young Person's Award. Attwood Green Making a Difference Award 2007

Optima Community Association

Communications in House Award Best Public Information Campaign 2000

Chartered Institute of Housing West Midlands Branch Award for Innovation 2001 for the Estates Services Partnership

UK Housing Awards Good Practice in Creating Sustainable Communities 2002

Housing Excellence Awards, Regeneration Scheme of the Year 2004

Shortlisted - InBiz Neighbourhood Improvement Award 2005

Winner - Deputy Prime Minister’s Award for Sustainable Communities 2005 (awarded 2006)

Finalist - APSE Housing Regeneration Initiative 2007

Bullock Construction Zurich Customer First Award scheme for delivering outstanding customer service and excelling in technical performance, Attwood Gemstones, 2006

Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Built in Quality Award for Attwood Gemstones, under the category of residential and apartments

Optima Staff

Pam Edwards, Scheme Manager, Latimer Gardens

Birmingham Evening Mail’s Local Hero November 2004

Liz Heafield, Housing Officer

Chartered Institute of Housing West Midlands Branch Best Student 2005

Park Central

CABE Building for Life Gold Standard Award 2005 for Zone 1

Building Magazine, Regeneration Housing Builder of the Year 2005, Crest Nicholson

Design of Moonlit park shortlist for the Bdi Industry and Genius Awards 2005 (Birmingham City Council)

Building Magazine, Regeneration Partnership of the Year 2005 (Crest Nicholson, Optima, Birmingham City Council)

Building Magazine, Regeneration Developer of the Year 2005 (Crest Nicholson)

RegenWM Vision of Transformation 2005

HBF and New Homes Marketing Board 2005 - Highly Commeded (Crest Nicholson)

Daily Express Housing Builder Award 2005, Silver (Crest Nicholson)

Build Quality Awards, Special Category, Zone 1a Park Central, Celebrating Construction 2006 (Crest Nicholson)

Your New Home. Best Development Winner, Urban Category 2006 (Crest Nicholson)
RegenWM Prize 2005 (awarded in 2006), Vision of Transformation ( BCC, Optima, Crest)
The Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development, 2007 (Crest Nicholson)
Regeneration & Renewal Awards: Developer of the Year, 2007 (Crest Nicholson)

The Birmingham Post and Mail House Design Awards: Best Town Houses, Best Overall Development, 2007
Regeneration & Renewal Awards, Housing-led Regeneration Project of the Year, 2007 (Crest Nicholson)
Regeneration & Renewal Awards: Regeneration Consultancy of the Year, 2007 (Gardner Stewart Architects)

Local History Project

Digital Ladywood www.digital-ladywood.org.uk 

Working in partnership with Birmingham City Council’s Library and Museum Services and their Housing and Education Initiative, we have set up a website to record the history of Attwood Green, the physical changes which have taken place and local people’s stories.  Since the website went live in September 2004, it has been visited 6,000 times. We are working with local schools to involve them in developing material to go on the site and encourage them to use it as a learning tool for their local history module.