Preston in Surrey - a story of regeneration with the community at the heart

In August and September 2024, Raven Housing Trust carried out a fact-finding mission in the Preston area, a community where they manage 1,215 of the 3,000 homes.

Raven wanted to find out what residents like about their homes and community, and, crucially, what aspects they think could be improved.

The findings will inform the first stage of what is expected to be around a ten-year transformational regeneration project to create homes and neighbourhoods that Raven customers, and the wider communities want and need.

The journey started in 2004 when Reigate & Banstead Borough Council identified Preston as a regeneration area. It created a 20-year policy which has seen improvements to the area, including the development of an old school site delivering 200+ homes, and a new leisure facility.

Raven now wants to build on this work. Working with the Preston community and local partners, Raven will invest in transformational regeneration to provide good quality homes, fit for the future, helping to create neighbourhoods that are safe, secure, and clean.

The following key objectives have been agreed to guide the estate renewal:

• Better Homes
• Better Place
• Better Opportunities
• Strong Foundations

This will be achieved by implementing a regeneration programme of Define, Design, Deliver.

The key aim is to create homes and communities that Raven customers, and the wider community want and need.

Recent data shows 20% more households in the Preston area are classified as deprived than in surrounding areas. There are double the number of children living in low income families with three times as many young people are likely to be claiming Universal Credit or Jobseekers’ Allowance. Pensioners are more than twice as likely to live in poverty than neighbouring communities. Almost 10% of households are overcrowded. Crime is higher than surrounding areas.

Raven is determined the plans will reflect the wants and needs of local people. Stage 1 is engagement with residents and the wider community to Define the scope of the regeneration programme.

In August and September 2024, almost 5000 newsletters were distributed, inviting residents to complete a short survey about their views of living in the area. These newsletters were delivered to local residents - in both Raven and non-Raven homes - and businesses.

As well as the survey, Raven’s engagement team attended several local events to hear directly from residents, and also ran a social media campaign linking to the online survey. The survey generated approximately 10% response rate.

This initial engagement and feedback will be carefully analysed and the results will feed into the next stages of Raven’s regeneration plans.

Raven anticipates that delivery will start in 2027 with the first phase of this regeneration programme to be complete around 2033.