University of Birmingham

Creation of a River Cole Community Commons in Birmingham

The Creation of a River Cole Community Commons is a collaborative project led by Birmingham Energy Institute, University of Birmingham. Part-funded by ERDF, with match funding from project partners Birmingham City Council, the Environment Agency, The Active Wellbeing Society and Sport England the project has delivered a programme of blue and green infrastructure and environmental improvements and community engagement programme across a 55-hectare area in a deprived part of East Birmingham.

It has also enhanced habitats and biodiversity, and improved the sustainability, connectivity and accessibility of the area bringing underused public open space back into use as a Community Commons. The project presents an excellent example of a University using its institutional power and role as an anchor institute and civic university to leverage investment, bring organisations together, develop innovative ways of working in partnership and deliver a project with significant benefit to society.

What the Judges Thought

Very impressive partnership across the city and institution. A great example of students and communities being brought together to participate in developing a sustainable project. Judges particularly liked the holistic approach which sought to ensure the involvement of all community stakeholders. Judges also appreciated the response to feedback from Stage 1 and describing the bottom-up co-design and co-creation aspect of the project and how much they have done to allow for replication of the project in the sector and beyond.

What it Means to Win

"We are delighted to have won this Benefitting Society Green Grown Award. As a civic university we are committed to supporting the growth and development of Birmingham, and projects like these are an excellent example of how we continue to work with partners to support local communities."

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor and Principal

Top 3 Learnings

1. Building trust with colleagues, partners and contractors was essential for successful delivery of our project.
2. Universities can and should use our institutional power to deliver environmental & community development work.
3. This project would not have succeeded if we had not learned to listen to the community and partners.