The WINS Tool – Wulverns Indicators of Neighbourhood Sustainability

The WINS tool is a neighbourhood appraisal system used by Wulvern to analyse how our neighbourhoods are performing in order to make evidence based and justified strategic decisions about their future. Along with the neighbourhood plans, it aims to improve the sustainability of your neighbourhoods and make them more desirable places to live. Currently, Wulvern are involved in gathering the primary data for both the WINS tool and the neighbourhood plans. This neighbourhood survey is designed to gather information about the major issues affecting both Wulvern tenants and private residents. Through customer consultation, Wulvern neighbourhood plans fed by the WINS tool, can help Wulvern make strategic decisions and serve as part of an early detection system that assists in identifying risk areas that threaten the health of the community and present a snapshot of the community's progress towards a sustainable future.

Fed by primary or ‘real time’ data, the WINS tool exists to answer some of the following questions:

• What are the major underlying issues affecting Wulvern tenants and private residents?
• What direction are Wulvern neighbourhoods moving in?
• How do people view the reputation of their neighbourhood?
• What is the condition of the local environment? 

For people living in the neighbourhood, the WINS tool can identify potential hotspots for Wulvern to target in order to bring their sustainability rating up to a desirable standard. This new approach will create more sustainable communities and enhance the quality of life for you. The development of the tool will assist the company in meeting improved environmental and sustainability government standards and will consolidate the company’s position as a market leader in the housing association sector.

The tool is being developed in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire and the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) and is due to be completed by August 2011.