Housing and Environment

Localities and neighbourhoods

Why is this important?

The quality of the built and natural environment, such as the local neighbourhoods, access to local shops, services, parks and green spaces, affect the health and wellbeing of everyone.

What is the local picture? How does it compare?

Satisfaction with the local area is slightly lower than the city average. According to the Household Survey, 60% of people surveyed in Binley and Willenhall said that they were satisfied with the local area as a place to live, compared with 66% of Coventry as a whole.

Binley and Willenhall have a good amount of greenspace relative to the other wards of Coventry. The Coventry City Council Green Space Strategy 2019-2024 states that Binley and Willenhall ward has 75.9 hectares of unrestricted greenspace in the area, amounting to 4.32 hectares per 1,000 people. This is more than the average for Coventry, 3.05 hectares per 1,000 people. Out of Coventry’s 18 wards Binley and Willenhall ranks as having the 5th highest amount of amenity greenspace, 5th highest amount of natural and semi-natural greenspace, 3rd highest green corridor, 5th highest outdoor sports facilities (unrestricted) and 2nd highest sports facilities (all). There are, however, no parks and gardens, no allotments and no cemeteries and churchyards.

Table: Green space quantity by primary type and Coventry ward, hectares per 1,000 population

Bandw airpollution

Source: Coventry Green Space Strategy 2019-2024, Coventry City Council

Air pollution is a significant health risk affecting Coventry residents. In Binley and Willenhall, estimated levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter (PM) are above the national median but below Coventry's average. Roadside pollution from NO₂ and PM is a concern across the UK, poor air quality affects different communities disproportionately, some areas in Coventry do not achieve the EU and international standards.

In 2022, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels were measured at 75 locations in Coventry using diffusion tubes. One device was situated in Binley and Willenhall near Tollbar End (a busy junction of the A45 and A46 at the southern-most point of the ward): it had an annual mean of less than 30 µg/m3 of NO2, amongst the lowest levels of all 75 locations measured across Coventry. Like all other locations in Coventry, the level measured with this device reduced between 2019 and 2022.

The Access to Healthy Assets and Hazards (AHAH) data set from The Consumer Data Research Centre estimates that Binley and Willenhall have slightly higher NO₂ and PM levels than the national average but lower than Coventry's average.

In the 2021 Census, 68.6% of households in Binley and Willenhall had access to a car or van, meaning 31.4% did not - higher than Coventry's average (27.6%) and England's (23.5%). Despite fewer households using cars, the area has high vulnerability to air pollution, much of which is traffic-related, highlighting an inequality in exposure.

The Living Environment domain of the English Indices of Deprivation 2019 show that the living environment in Binley and Willenhall is relatively good. This factor has two aspects: the indoors living environment, which reflects the condition of housing, and the outdoors living environment, which reflects air quality and road safety. While 43% of residents live in highly deprived areas overall, none live in the most deprived 20% for the environment. In fact, 69% live in areas that are categorised amongst the least deprived 50% of English neighbourhoods, meaning these areas have better housing and fewer environmental hazards. This is higher than the Coventry average, where only 16% of residents live in such areas.

What else is happening? What else can be done?

Despite there being plenty of wildlife and greenspace in the area, residents voice concern about a need for more youth provision. The Brookstray Play Area in Willenhall provides a cluster of playground equipment for residents. Voluntary groups such as Friends of Willenhall Memorial Park work to promote activities in the park such as festivals, host a weekly cycling club and stay and play sessions for children.

Some residents highlighted a concern that the Binley Road Cycle Lane could contribute to congestion. Some residents highlighted concerns that the bike lanes made the roads congested and increased pollution by reducing space for cars causing them to idle and take longer routes. It was also highlighted that pedestrian access and crossings could be made safer. Particularly in Binley where residents felt unsafe, one resident commented "I like bike lanes, but I also want safer sidewalks and crossings for pedestrians. Binley is a nightmare for walking."

Lowering bus fares can make public transport more accessible and attractive to a broader range of people. This affordability can encourage more individuals to use buses instead of driving, thereby reducing the number of cars on the road. In addition to reducing traffic congestion, cheaper fares can help lower overall emissions and contribute to a cleaner environment. Ongoing investment in public transport and cycling infrastructure is essential for promoting sustainable transportation options. Continued improvements to bus services, train networks, and cycling facilities can make these alternatives more viable and appealing.

 “Cheaper bus fares. A way of reporting cars that are polluting the streets by pumping out dirty fumes”.

“Continue to improve public transport and cycling infrastructure.”

Cleaning up litter and ensuring the area was presentable was important to residents. It was seen as a way for maintaining a healthy environment and improving the quality of life for residents. Regular cleanups, especially in areas frequently neglected, can have a significant positive impact on the areas image and reduce the harmful effects of waste on the environment.

Efficient recycling is essential for maintaining a sustainable environment and protecting green spaces. Residents called for more recycling bins, especially in high-traffic areas like shopping districts, can encourage people to dispose of waste responsibly. Alongside this, public awareness campaigns about the importance of recycling and protecting green areas should be amplified. Educating citizens on how their small actions can make a big difference can increase participation in environmental efforts and help keep the city’s natural spaces safe from degradation.

“Clean the litter from areas in and around the city”.

 “I think with should approach the public by simple and realistic facts so they can take their part, when the train is on the move is the result appears... The main parameter is socioeconomic.”

Housing and Environment

Why is this important?

Historically, housing is only considered in relation to health in terms of support to help vulnerable people to live healthy, independent lives and reduce the pressure on families and carers. However, it is now recognised that good quality housing for all leads to better health and wellbeing, as it indirectly affects early years outcomes, educational achievement, economic prosperity and community safety.

Conversely, rough sleeping and homelessness significantly impacts on a person’s mental and physical health, and the longer someone experiences rough sleeping, the more likely they will develop additional mental and physical health needs, develop substance misuse issues and have contact with the criminal justice system.

What is the local picture? How does it compare?

Census 2021 data reveals significant housing variation between Binley and Willenhall. Socially rented households are more common in Binley and Willenhall (31.6%) than the Coventry average (17.0%), while private rented households are less common (12.8% vs. 24.7% in Coventry). Owner-occupied homes are slightly below the Coventry average (55.1% vs. 57.4%).

Residents in Binley are more likely to own their property (82.5%) than residents in Willenhall (36.3%). Half (50.0%) of all households in Willenhall are socially rented, the highest rate of all areas in Coventry, compared to just 3.4% of Binley households.

Housing types in Binley and Willenhall are similar to Coventry overall, with a mix of terraced (33.7%), semi-detached (32.6%), and purpose-built flats or tenements (22.2%). Willenhall has more purpose-built flats (37.1%) compared to Binley (3.3%), while detached houses are more common in Binley (24.6%) than Willenhall.

Despite fewer people per household, Willenhall has a higher overcrowding rate (12.8%) than Coventry (7.7%). Binley has a low overcrowding rate at 2.5%. A house is defined as overcrowded if there are too few rooms for the number of occupants based on standards of a minimum number of common rooms and bedrooms needed for the size and composition of the household.

House prices in Binley and Willenhall are lower than the Coventry average of £235,700, with a mean of £213,400 for the year ending September 2022. Binley’s average price is higher (£250,000) than Willenhall’s (£176,000). Recent house price increases have outpaced Coventry’s average: up 9% in the past year versus 4% citywide, and up 26% over four years compared to 20% in Coventry overall.

Homelessness application rates in Binley and Willenhall are similar to the Coventry average: 14.3 per 1,000 households compared to 14.6 for the city in the financial year 2022/23. However, the rate over the five-year period from 2018/19 to 2022/23, is higher in the area (78.7 per 1,000 households) compared to 63.1 for Coventry. While city rates have steadily increased, the ward’s rate has varied, reaching a low of 13.1 in 2018/19 and a high of 18.2 in 2020/21. This indicates that more people are applying for homelessness status every year across the city, while the number in the ward remains stable. Applications are much higher in number from Willenhall (23.2 per 1,000) than Binley (5.4 per 1,000).

Fuel poverty, which is influenced by energy prices, incomes, and housing quality, is lower than the Coventry average in Binley and Willenhall, but higher than the national average. This is measured using 2021 data, a time before the significant increase in energy bills impacted on households - the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on communities across the city is yet to be fully realised, as people face rapidly rising energy, fuel, food, and housing costs. In 2021 fuel poverty was more prevalent in Coventry than in the region or England, Coventry had the 4th highest fuel poverty rate of all local authority areas in England. The Coventry average was 20.8% and the England average was 13.1%. Across Binley and Willenhall 15.5% of households were estimated to be in fuel poverty, it is higher in Willenhall (17.3%) than Binley (9.6%).

What else is happening? What else can be done?

Residents expressed concerns about the level of rough sleeping and hidden homelessness in the area. Housing charities are active in the area supporting homeless and formerly homeless people into paid employment and support. Emmaus is a charity that operates within Binley, supporting formerly homeless people and people at risk of homelessness to find a place where they can socialise and gain support. Wood Side Family Hub also have members of Citizen available to discuss housing advice.

Threats to health and wellbeing are exacerbated by the increased costs associated with keeping homes warm, dry, and ventilated sufficiently over the colder months of the year and potential intermittent shortages in energy supply. Cold homes are recognised as a source of both physical and mental ill health, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke, respiratory illness, falls and accidents.

The Council has been proactive in supporting the most vulnerable residents access support through a series of initiatives. Coventry City Council have commissioned local energy charity Act on Energy to deliver its Keeping Coventry Warm Scheme. Keeping Coventry Warm provides Coventry residents with free energy saving advice and information.

The household support fund is also a way to provide residents with support for essentials linked to energy and water in recognition that a range of costs may arise that directly affect a households’ ability to afford or access food energy and water.

Crime and Community Safety

Why is this important?

Being a victim of crime, and being worried about crime, impacts on a person’s perception of their quality of life in the neighbourhood and has a negative effect on a person’s mental and physical wellbeing.

What is the local picture? How does it compare?

In the 2022 Household Survey, 82% of residents surveyed in Binley and Willenhall felt safe during the day compared to the Coventry average of 77%. However, the feeling of safety drops significantly at night. Only 42% of Binley and Willenhall residents said they felt safe after dark, which is slightly below the city average of 45%. This trend is consistent in every MSOA in Coventry.

The recorded crime rate in Binley and Willenhall has been consistently higher than the city average and has increased in recent years. In 2022/23, the total number of crimes reported in the area was 2,482 at a rate of 137.4 per 1,000 population, higher than the city average of 124.6. The crime rate in the area has been on an increasing trend, with the total number of crimes recorded in Binley and Willenhall 10% higher than in 2021/22, compared to the Coventry overall increase of 5% in the same period.

Willenhall's crime rate is among the highest in Coventry (187.7 per 1,000), Crime rates vary within the ward, with Willenhall Wood – Middle Ride having the highest rate (243.3 per 1,000) and Binley – Oxenden Way the lowest (68.7 per 1,000). The 2023 Serious Violence Strategic Needs Assessment highlights Binley and Willenhall as having the 3rd highest knife crime rate in Coventry, at 7.9 per 1,000, compared to the city average of 5.7.

Over the last 5 years, while there have been increases in most categories of crime, it has been increases in crimes under the category ‘Violence and sexual offences’ that have driven the increase in overall crime: this category has more crimes recorded than any other category. This is the case in Binley and Willenhall; in 2022/23 there were 1,091 recorded cases under this category at a rate of 60.4 per 1,000 population. This rate is higher than the city average of 51.6.

Out of the 13 categories in the recorded crime data, Binley and Willenhall has higher-than-city-average rates in eight of them: burglary, criminal damage and arson, possession of weapons, public order, robbery, vehicle crime, violence and sexual offences and other crime.

The rate of recorded crimes in 2022/23 differed depending on the location within the ward, with the highest rate of 243.3 per 1,000 in Willenhall Wood – Middle Ride, and the lowest rate of 68.7 per 1,000 in Binley – Oxenden Way. Willenhall as an area overall experienced a crime rate amongst the highest of all areas in Coventry, at 187.70 per 1,000, whereas rates were lower than average in Binley.

The Coventry Serious Violence Strategic Needs Assessment 2023 highlights Binley and Willenhall ward as having relatively high rates of knife crime. Although the volume of such crimes is relatively small among the total recorded ‘Violence and sexual offences’ in the area, with 140 recorded crimes recorded in the four years including 2019/20 to 2022/23, Binley and Willenhall ward is highlighted as having the 3rd highest rate of knife crime out of all 18 Coventry wards, at 7.9 per 1,000 population compared to the city average rate of 5.7.

What else is happening? What else can be done?

There are organisations operating within the area to encourage young people to make positive choices. Positive Youth Foundation provide a Positive Futures programme, focusing on reducing fears and instances of youth related violence. The programme is designed to lead on current issues such as knife crime and offer professional development training to upskill young people. The scheme also provides a safe and accessible timetable of after -school, weekend and evening provision.

“Fly tipping needs to be cut out and maybe introduce fines if people don’t upkeep the front of their property …people have no pride anymore”

A stronger police presence, especially in areas where knife crime is prevalent, is crucial for improving public safety. Residents suggested a need for more patrols and visible law enforcement to act as a deterrent to crime and help build trust between communities and the police. Some residents felt that a more consistent police presence would allow for faster responses to incidents and contribute to a safer environment for residents. Alongside this, reopening community centres and providing youth with activities can give them alternatives to crime and reduce the likelihood of young people getting involved in criminal behaviour.

Reintroducing community wardens can be an effective strategy in tackling crime and addressing social inequalities. Residents felt that wardens were previously successful in creating safer neighbourhoods by engaging with residents, addressing minor issues before they escalated, and fostering a sense of community responsibility. Bringing them back could play a key role in reducing crime and promoting equality across various areas.

Residents suggested introducing fines and encouraging residents to take more pride in their surroundings. A crackdown on fly-tipping, combined with stricter penalties, is necessary to preserve the cleanliness and aesthetics of neighbourhoods and foster community pride.

Community centres, more police officers patrolling … Give kids more things to do.”

“Bring back community wardens which were very successful in tackling inequalities and crime”