Case Studies

Churchill Gardens

Background
Pinnacle PSG has been providing housing management services in Churchill Gardens, Westminster and the surrounding area since 1996. CityWest Homes awarded Pinnacle PSG the latest contract in 2006.

Churchill Gardens comprises of 1,783 properties in 40 blocks with a further 80 properties in Russell House. The estate was designed to look like ships at berth and built between 1950 and 1961 for Westminster Council. It was awarded the prestigious Civic Trust award in 1961 and six of the 40 blocks have been given a Grade II listing.

As well as housing management we are also responsible for grounds maintenance and estate cleaning. Other key elements of the contract include housing arrears, empty properties, complaints and repairs. Our team is based in offices on the estate and meet with residents regularly to identify areas that need attention and work closely with them resolve any problems.

There is an emphasis on community and children with many open communal spaces and play areas as well as a community hall and youth centre, which gives the area a real family feel. Located in the centre of Pimlico, right on the Thames makes Churchill Gardens an extremely attractive place to live. This has led to many of the residents buying their properties under the Right To Buy scheme. Today over half of the leases on the estate have been bought by residents making Churchill Gardens a truly ‘mixed tenure’ estate.

Working with the community
The team at Churchill Gardens believe residents need to be consulted and involved in the decision making process as much a possible. We place great importance on relationships with those we work with, always wanting to hear what residents in the local community have to say.

Our staff use their local knowledge to go directly to those who will be affected by any changes or proposals. We have established good relationships with estate residents and hold regular meetings to discuss their priorities for improving the neighbourhood and life for everyone who lives there.

In order to effectively communicate with residents, Pinnacle PSG created a residents’ panel. Any major works that need to be carried out are discussed with the Lessees Association prior to work starting. This ensures residents have real input and works are carried out to their specifications.

We meet regularly with the residents’ association to discuss their concerns, in particular any anti-social behaviour issues or problems to do with general upkeep of the estate. To tackle anti-social behaviour we work with Civic Watch and Safer Neighbourhoods Officers as well as holding regular meetings with the police and City Guardians. This has already started to show results with relatively low instances of ASBOs being placed on residents. Following discussions with residents on ideas to improve the estate our team has successfully bid for almost a quarter of a million pounds in funding over the last year to improve security lighting, provide new bike racks and landscaping schemes.