Union Village is a £30m regeneration scheme, which aimed to transform a former Housing Market Renewal site in Gresham, Middlesbrough. Following decades of industrial decline and high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, the development sought to deliver high quality, affordable homes and create a safe and inclusive community.The 145no. development delivered tenure-blind, design-led, 2, 3 and 4 bed homes arranged around secure perimeter block streets and shared communal gardens. The physical regeneration was purposefully aligned with social investment, resident engagement and a desire to build long-lasting communities that would provide a foundation for sustainable economic and social growth.

The project combines high quality placemaking and design to deliver high-quality affordable homes, aimed at ameliorating the many constraints of the area and reducing inequalities, through provision of a safe and inclusive environment that would enable future residents to live an active and healthy life with good levels of physical and mental well-being. Replacing a divisive gated community approach with a softer boundary definition is a highly commendable aspect of the design. Planners played a pivotal role in navigating complex and multifaceted social issues by meaningful engagement with diverse communities. Union Village is a great example of a housing project with a social purpose and shows how planning and design can enhance community building in highly challenging contexts.