The Centre for the New Midlands has today launched its latest research report: Developing a Decent Neighbourhood Standard: The Witton Lodge Community Association Demonstrator Project, commissioned by Witton Lodge Community Association (WLCA) and developed in collaboration with the research group Social Life.

Neighbourhoods are the foundation of daily life—where housing, community, infrastructure, and local identity converge. In a time of renewed political focus on neighbourhood-level change, from the Government’s Plan for Neighbourhoods to the work of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods, this report sets out an emerging framework to support healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities.

Drawing inspiration from the Decent Homes Standard, the Decent Neighbourhood Standard seeks to address the accountability gap in neighbourhood quality through four universal dimensions:

  • Neighbourhood Quality Standards
  • Accountability, Influence and Stewardship
  • Reducing Inequalities and Enabling Aspirations
  • Securing a Sustainable Future

These dimensions were piloted with WLCA in North Birmingham—our first demonstrator project, where we have begun to tailor a local Decent Neighbourhood Standard from these universal themes to map local accountability for neighbourhood quality, evaluate their impact, and lay the foundation for longer-term, community-led change. We’re now working with WLCA to co-develop metrics within each dimension that will support their strategic planning and deepen understanding of their neighbourhood impact.

We hope this report helps drive forward dialogue across policy, practice, and academia on how to better define and support decent neighbourhoods. We welcome conversations with others interested in becoming demonstrator sites for future phases of this work and please do not hesitate to contact Dr Halima Sacranie (Director of Housing Research via halima@thenewmidlands.org.uk)

How to access the report:

 

To download the full report, please click here

To view the report online, please click here

 

Appendices can be downloaded here:

Appendix A: Engaging with Witton Lodge Community Association

Appendix B: Community Collaborative Workshop Insights on WLCA Decent Neighbourhood Standard

Appendix C: Analysis of key frameworks concerned with neighbourhood quality