Name: Wick Hall
Location: Brighton
About: Wick Hall houses 500 people who are part of a residents association focusing on sustainability
Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith
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Wick Hall on Furze Hill in Brighton was built in 1936 and over 500 people live there. The residents have formed a committee to identify ways to reduce the amount of energy they all use and have exciting plans for their large roof.
Wick Hall residents say: "Only when you're up on the roof can you truly appreciate what a wonderful place it is. Above the streets and the confines of our small flats you get a real sense of space and light. This place should be green rather than grey. We want the opportunity to watch the clouds race over the sea, grow a few tomatoes and relax."
"We see ourselves as part of the transition idea. There are 500 residents in the association and the committee is formed of 12 people."
"The main focus of the association is sustainability and, of course, how to encourage collaboration between the residents and raise awareness among them. We try to find a vision, an agreement, and consequently to build a sustainable community."
"Wick Hall was constructed in the 1930s and there used to be lots of heat dispersal due to a very badly managed communal heating system. We are concentrating on energy efficiency, recycling, water management and well being. We've managed to reduce the cost of heating by 30%."
"We've built a bicycle rack and people are cycling more. We've had some notable success but also confronted a number of interesting institutional constraints from local authorities and the private sector."
"We have lots of experience to share now. We would like to link with other resident associations and are also interested in looking at mediation and conflict resolution as a tool to build a better community."
An update from Wick Hall Residents
Since the tenants association became part of Climate Connections there has been a debate going on among people living in the building about the best way forward towards Wick Hall becoming an example of sustainable living.
For people living on the top floor the idea of having a green roof has brought worries about having people walking on their roof and the consequent potential noise associated with that. For others, the positive impact of having a green space and growing food literally 'above their heads' is seen as a great improvement to the building and as a way of bringing residents together. Discussions have focused on health and safety issues in relation to using the roof space as a garden and also possibly for using the space for solar panels.
The green roof is a big project and needs to be assessed in terms of health and safety. As for example, the wall circling the roof is not high enough, structural work needs to be carried out to make it safe. The lay out of Wick Hall, with four blocks joined together, highlights difficulties of reaching an agreement, but could also open the door – literally! - to using just one block to explore ways to make the building 'greener'.
There has been research into the possibility of Wick Hall become a 'demonstration model' for the installation of solar panels on the roof with the possibility of selling some of the energy back into the national grid.
Ongoing developments have included insulating the boilers reducing energy use and energy bills, as well as creating space for bicycle racks. Bike racks have facilitated cycling and the storage of bikes but have also reduced parking space for cars - how to find the right balance?
Twelve residents meet monthly to discuss these ongoing developments and are able to feed information to the 80% of residents who are members of the residents association through the resident association website.
Find out how to make the space where you live more sustainable by going to 
. You could also grow your own food whatever space you have available, check for ideas. Change the way you travel, don't know how? We have few suggestions for you on or improve the way you recycle .
Fork in the compost heap Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith
Residents on the lawn Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith
Wick Hall residents Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith
Shaun on the lawn Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith
Shaun with bikes Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith
Wick Hall Back Garden Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith
Wick Hall Sign Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith
