Dwellbeing Shieldfield

  • Working collaboratively with a community group to deliver a spatial strategy for a neighbourhood
  • Collaborators
    Shieling Working Group
  • Location
    Newcastle upon Tyne

Stage 1 Urban Design Trainees
Mo Younis and Amin Goodarz

Stage 2 Urban Design Trainee
Zouhal Younis

Publication

Dwellbeing Shieldfield is a community group and co-operative for people of all ages and backgrounds based in the inner-urban area of Shieldfield in Newcastle. Initiated originally by three artists, the community-led group now initiate and host of events including the youth programme and Shieling working group focused on community use of public space within Shieldfield.

Harper Perry have been working with the Shieling group since 2018 to support them in exploring and developing proposals for their neighbourhood. These have included design projects for community spaces (as yet unfunded), traineeships to build knowledge within the local community, and a community-led Neighbourhood Strategy, published in 2023.

Spreads on a purple surface show pages from

‘Shieldfield: A Strategic Plan’ was co-produced with Dwellbeing Shieldfield, artists and researchers at Newcastle University and the residents of Shieldfield. It establishes priorities planning and development in the area and emphasises the need for community involvement in developing future plans. The Strategic Plan was initiated in response to the rapid development of purpose-built student accommodation in the area – nearly 6000 bedspaces over the past 10 years – and the significant changes that has created, with limited benefit to the existing community.

The strategic plan was developed over 2 years in collaboration with the Shieling working group. We used events such as car-free day, guided walks and community football tournaments to engage residents in conversations about the public realm and develop priorities for the Strategic Plan.

The strategy focuses on the future of:
• Environment, Ecology and Green Space
• Community and local economy
• Housing
• Services, transport, and infrastructure

Traineeships

As part of the wider objectives of Dwellbeing Shieldfield to build capacity within the local community, we have supported the group by hosting three traineeships. The trainees – all Shieldfield residents – have developed skills in place-based research, narrative building and spatial design.

Planning for action

With support from funding through an Economic and Social Research Council, Impact Acceleration Grant and Newcastle University, we have recently been working with Dwellbeing Shieldfield and our third Trainee to develop and test proposals for improving a key amenity space within the estate.

  • People with painted faces, including bees and rainbows, smile at an outdoor event. The scene is casual and joyful, with greenery in the background.

    Car free day celebrating Shieldfield that involved closing Napier Street to traffic and opening it up to people, music, food and play. The event coincided with international car free day and was used to talk about the use of neighbourhood as a bypass reflecting on the low car ownership.

  • Children and adults engaged in a craft activity at a table, focusing intently. The scene conveys a collaborative and creative atmosphere.

    A design festival held in the gardens at SAW exploring the history and future of Shieldfield through mix of 1:1 installations, artist-led making, conversations and food.

  • A diverse group of people sit around a table, discussing the
  • A bulletin board displays a vibrant orange poster with questions about skills and learning, surrounded by sticky notes. Adjacent photos show various buildings.

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Harper Perry

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