--- title: Community-Led Regeneration - Redbrook Trail, Partington, Manchester description: How V4 supported the delivery of the Bristol City Council Adults Social Care - One Framework. image: https://v4services.com/hubfs/Redbrook%20Trail2.png --- ## Overview **Partington - **a semi-rural area in Greater Manchester, faced longstanding challenges including underused public space, antisocial behaviour, limited economic opportunity, and low civic engagement. A holistic regeneration approach led by Andrew Edwards (Senior Consultant at V4 Services, since 2022) has transformed the area into a safer, greener, and more connected place - during his time as Regeneration Manager at Your Housing Group (YHG). At the centre of the regeneration was the revival of the Redbrook Trail, a forgotten green corridor, along with major investments in community facilities, enterprise, and environmental action.  This replicable approach offers a proven, community-first model for activating green and public spaces, fostering local pride, and supporting underserved communities through collaborative delivery and measurable impact. ## The Challenge: Project Goals To use environmental and economic regeneration as a driver of community pride, youth engagement, and long-term neighbourhood sustainability. **Key Outcomes:** - Engage residents through creative consultation and local action - Restore a neglected green trail into a civic asset - Support economic resilience and start-up culture - Activate events and activities for wellbeing and cohesion - Increase visibility, safety, and community ownership  ![Redbrook Trail2](https://v4services.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Redbrook%20Trail2.png?width=649&height=330&name=Redbrook%20Trail2.png) ## The Solution **Community Visioning – Engagement Through Creativity** The regeneration programme began with a strong emphasis on co-production. To understand priorities and re-establish trust, Andrew led a creative engagement programme including: - Mapping sessions, photovoice, and walking audits - Forest school-style workshops and pop-up consultation - Collaborative mural and signage design with schools - Doorstep dialogue and social media reach-outs ***These activities identified the Redbrook Trail  - overgrown and feared - as the key space to transform.*** **Environmental Restoration - Redbrook Trail**  **Originally developed with ERDF funding in 2007, the trail had fallen into disuse. Its transformation included:** - Vegetation clearance, invasive species removal, improved lighting - Tree planting: 100 English Oaks + hundreds of native species (funded by Our Bright Future) - Accessible pathway resurfacing and safer junctions - Art-based interpretation boards, litter campaigns, and trail events *The trail is now central to community recreation, active travel, and wellbeing. * **Partnerships and Volunteering – Unlocking Local Ownership** **Success was driven by multi-agency collaboration and growing volunteer networks. Partners included:** - Woodland Trust, National Trust, and Keep Britain Tidy - Local schools, Trafford Council, housing and social prescribing teams - Over 50 community volunteers, youth groups, and older residents ***This collaboration shaped decisions, built ownership, and sustained improvements.*** **Education, Youth Engagement and Wellbeing** **Children and young people played a critical role in co-design and delivery:** - Created signage, trail guides, and ecology boards - Led guided walks and supported seasonal trail clean-ups - Received environmental education linked to school curricula - Connected with health professionals through outdoor wellbeing activities ***Youth engagement helped reduce low-level ASB and fostered long-term community stewards.*** ## Key Successes **Community Events & Celebration: ****A programme of seasonal and annual events brought people together:** - Redbrook Trail events (Easter, summer walks, winter lights) - Community days at The Fuse, the community hub, and Oak Road Park - Annual Neighbourhood Awards and celebration days to honour local changemakers ***These gatherings became signature events, reinforcing civic pride and strengthening relationships.*** **Enterprise and Economic Growth: ****leading the letting of commercial units to local businesses:** - Increased footfall and local spend - Boosted employment opportunities - Encouraged community-driven commerce and reduced vacancy rates **YHG also partnered with Pop-Up Business School, Trafford Housing Trust and Beautiful Ideas Company to:** - Deliver enterprise training to 85+ participants - Establish a business support and micro-funding programme - Foster a self-employment culture in Partington and surrounding areas **Broader Environmental and Youth Initiatives:  t****he regeneration included workstreams that supported:** - M31 Employment Partnership – jobs fairs, school outreach, Connected Club - M31 Project Group – environmental action with YHG, Trafford Council, Amey, Friends of Oak Road - Love Where You Live clean-ups, litter tracking, school workshops - Community Skip Days with upcyclers and recycling ambassadors - Support for youth sports, Trafford Moving Project, and Connect Club (10 laptops donated for digital access) ***These cross-sector initiatives helped address local ASB, disconnection, and waste while boosting pride and skills.*** ## **Outcomes and Impact**  **Social and Community** - Increased pride, ownership, and visibility - New and strengthened community groups - Improved perceptions of safety and inclusion **Environmental and Educational** - Restored green infrastructure and biodiversity - School engagement embedded in project delivery - Environmental stewardship and learning **Health and Economic** - Social prescribing referrals to the trail and events - More active lifestyles and intergenerational play - Local spending and enterprise supported - Strong local partnership culture sustained To find out how V4 Services can help you with your next project, please [get in touch](https://v4services.com/contact-us).   [ Download this Case Study ](https://v4services.com/hubfs/Community-Led%20Regeneration%20%20-%20Partington%2c%20Greater%20Manchester-1.pdf) ## Other insights to explore [![](https://v4services.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Parc%20Clwyd5.png?width=1190&height=766&name=Parc%20Clwyd5.png) Jul 29, 2025 ## Community-Led Regeneration - Parc Clwyd, Ruthin, NorthWales Strategy | Regeneration | Procurement | advisory | engagement | community | placemaking ](https://v4services.com/case-studies/community-led-regeneration-parc-clwyd-ruthin-northwales) [![](https://v4services.com/hs-fs/hubfs/V4%20Services/PDFs/Case%20Studies/The%20re-procurement%20of%20Bristol%20City%20Council%E2%80%99s%20People%20Major%20Systems/Blog%20Image%20-%20450x300%20%E2%80%93%20The%20re-procurement%20of%20Bristol%20City%20Council%E2%80%99s%20People%20Major%20Systems.jpg?width=450&height=300&name=Blog%20Image%20-%20450x300%20%E2%80%93%20The%20re-procurement%20of%20Bristol%20City%20Council%E2%80%99s%20People%20Major%20Systems.jpg) Sep 4, 2024 ## The re-procurement of Bristol City Council’s People Major Systems Strategy | Local Government ](https://v4services.com/case-studies/the-re-procurement-of-bristol-city-councils-people-major-systems) [![](https://v4services.com/hs-fs/hubfs/V4%20Services/PDFs/Case%20Studies/Regeneration%20of%20Penistone/Blog%20Image%20-%20450x300%20%E2%80%93%20The%20regeneration%20of%20the%20town%20of%20Penistone.jpg?width=450&height=300&name=Blog%20Image%20-%20450x300%20%E2%80%93%20The%20regeneration%20of%20the%20town%20of%20Penistone.jpg) Sep 4, 2024 ## The regeneration of the town of Penistone Strategy | Regeneration ](https://v4services.com/case-studies/the-regeneration-of-the-town-of-penistone) Cookie Settings ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "V4 Services", "url" : "https://v4services.com/case-studies/author/v4-services" }, "dateModified" : "2025-08-11T15:41:48.548Z", "datePublished" : "2025-07-29T08:49:20.000Z", "headline" : "Community-Led Regeneration - 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