Community-Led Regeneration - Redbrook Trail, Partington, Manchester

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 

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:  the 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.