For many residents of Newport, known locally by many as Gresham, the story of the neighbourhood is inseparable from the experience of change. Over the past two decades, large areas of housing were demolished as part of regeneration plans, leaving empty land, disrupted communities and uncertainty about the future of the area. For some residents, these changes reinforced a feeling that important decisions about the neighbourhood were being made without them.
Yet the story of Newport is not simply one of loss or deprivation. It is also a story of resilience, local commitment and a continuing desire to shape the future of the neighbourhood. Community organisations, local residents and voluntary groups have worked together to create projects, spaces and plans that seek to improve everyday life and strengthen community connections. Their efforts reflect a belief that neighbourhood change is not only about physical redevelopment, but also about relationships, belonging and opportunities for people to influence the places where they live.
Drawing on the Just Neighbourhoods research, this story explores how residents engaged with community-led planning, including the development of a Neighbourhood Priority Statement intended to capture local aspirations for safety, housing and community cohesion. It highlights both the potential and the limitations of community-led planning in areas experiencing long-term disadvantage. Above all, it raises a fundamental question: how can planning and regeneration systems better recognise, support and act upon the knowledge, priorities and ambitions that already exist within communities?