Gloucester City Homes
9 July 2024
The result is that feedback is provided from both customers and other local residents which feeds into and influences GCH’s plans for the communities in which it works.
It was raining and blowing a gale when I left home in Bradford at silly o’clock this morning, but cracking the flags when I arrived in Gloucester a few hours later. I’ve never been to Gloucester, so I guess I could say that in my experience (contrary to Dr Fosters’), the sun always shines there!!
Catherine Ryder and I met at the train station and went to meet Guy Stenson, Chief Executive of new PlaceShapers member Gloucester City Homes, to talk about all things GCH and PlaceShapers.
It was clear from the outset that GCH is putting customers at the heart of the organisation, that customer views are heard, and that those views influence the decisions being taken.
Guy talked about GCH’s recent development programme delivering around 100 new homes per year, and how that was shifting in focus to place more emphasis on regeneration of the communities where GCH already operate. He explained this was in recognition of the role GCH is able to play contributing to the wider regeneration plans for the city, and also to recognise the importance of investing in GCH’s existing homes and investing in those communities to improve the localities where GCH’s customers live.
We went for a walk to see some of it first hand and were in the middle of one of their estates literally 5 minutes from the office - Guy said he often goes for a walk to see what’s going on on their estates. It was clear to me hearing this and listening to Guy more generally that he believes wholeheartedly in what GCH are working to achieve.
We stopped at a community cafe that GCH supports to discuss what we’d seen including the high rise block of flats that will be demolished and replaced with low rise flats and houses. Guy described how GCH are working hard to make it easy for customers to give their views. They encourage community events that aren’t actually designed as customer feedback events at all (the example Guy gave was all about community art) and then attend themselves and find ways to secure local resident views about the issues in their estate. The result is that feedback is provided from both customers and other local residents which feeds into and influences GCH’s plans for the communities in which it works.
There is no doubt that GCH are putting place-shaping at the heart of decision-making, and I am looking forward to their story being told along with other PlaceShapers members. We will combine local stories to create national influence.
For now though, it’s back on the train to 40mph winds and rain in Bradford. I think I want to stay to Gloucester a bit longer.
