Winstanley Neighbourhood Regeneration Plan Community Panel FAQs

As part of our regeneration plans for the area, we are planning to launch the Winstanley Community Panel. Find out more about our plans.

What is the Winstanley Neighbourhood Regeneration Plan (WNRP)?

The WNRP is a new programme of work being led by Wandsworth Council. It aims to join up services across the Council to provide a set of projects that create improvements to the estate which we hope address local needs and priorities.  

Why is a community panel being created?

We want to shift towards a more ‘co-design’ way of working, enabling the community to have a meaningful influence on the work taking place in their neighbourhood. We think a community panel will provide one way to do this.

What is the purpose of the panel and what will it be able to achieve?

The panel provides an opportunity for community members, Council officers and design team professionals to come together to review and shape the work taking place in the area. The panel will participate in all aspects of the WNRP, including the new housing, library and community building, play areas and places in the public realm improvements. It will be involved in decision making across the programme and officers will clearly set out the degree of influence that the panel can have over different aspects of renewal.  

To get a taste of how it will work, take a look at community panel meetings held as part of the Alton Renewal Plan.

Who is eligible to become a panel member and what will the role involve?

If you live in the Winstanley neighbourhood, you are eligible to apply. You will bring your own individual experience and views to the panel. While we hope you will be thinking about the greater good, and how renewal can benefit the wider community, you are not expected to be a spokesperson for any particular group, or for residents as a whole.

The Council and design team members will share information with you about the projects taking place on the estate and we expect you to read and review information shared ahead of any meetings or workshops. We will support you to do this and take any feedback on the type of and volume of information shared. 

You will work with the Council and other panel members to review, advise and make decisions about the projects taking place in the Winstanley neighbourhood.

We will work to ensure that panel members:

• Feel listened to by the Council and treated as equals and partners.
• See tangible evidence of having played a role in decision-making
• See visible changes on the estate that feel appropriate to the community and something to be proud of
• Have increased understanding of how development works, and of Council processes
  Feel empowered, represented and motivated

How much of my time will be needed?

The panel will initially meet from December 2025 until September 2026. At this point we will reflect on what has worked well and review any changes needed for the panel to continue.

You would meet once per month, and each meeting will last two hours. We expect there to be a minimum of four hours required: 

• Two hours for the monthly meeting
• One hour preparation
• One hour follow up

There may be additional meetings, events and activities outside of these core meetings.

The dates and times for meetings will be agreed when the panel has been recruited to ensure they best meet the needs of the individuals.  

How will I be paid and will this affect my benefits? 

You will be paid the London Living Wage (currently £13.85 per hour) for all your time involved in the panel, for example, any preparation, reading, tasks outside of meetings, travel and attendance at meetings.  You will be expected to complete a monthly timesheet, and you will be paid directly into your bank account. 

If you receive state benefits, it is your responsibility to inform the appropriate agency of any payment, which must be declared under the terms of that benefit. The payment for being a panel member is for involvement, and you will be acting as an independent advisor – you will not be considered as entering into an employment relationship with the Council. If you are concerned that this may have an impact on your benefits, please contact Alison Gee in the first instance, who can direct you to the appropriate organisation. For example, it you are a Wandsworth Council tenant our Financial Inclusion team will be able to provide support. 

I’ve never been on a panel before, what support can the Council provide?

We want to ensure that anyone who lives in the Winstanley neighbourhood area has the opportunity to join this panel and feels comfortable working with us. There will be a dedicated member of Council staff, Alison Gee, who can provide individual support to panel members outside of the meetings.

If you have any access or inclusion needs, such as for childcare or a sign language interpreter, please let us know. We are aiming for a genuinely representative panel and will accommodate individual needs.

We will provide ongoing training in response to the focus of the meetings and requirements and requests from the panel. This could include, but is not limited to:

• Support when reading architectural plans
• Understanding the role of value engineering
• Understanding the Local Authority decision making processes
• Exploring social value policy and design principles 

We hope this will support in removing barriers to taking part.

Who will be on the panel and what will their roles look like?

The panel will be made up of 15 residents, a third party chair to help lead the panel through sessions, and Wandsworth Council officers. 

Resident panel members

15 individuals who live in the Winstanley Neighbourhood area. 

Third party chair

The chair will:

• Prepare panel meetings based on the WNR programme and panel members feedback and priorities
• Chair monthly meetings
• Provide follow up notes and actions from the meetings

Wandsworth Council officers

These include:

• Kate Batchelor, Programme Manager
• Alison Gee, Resident Engagement Officer
• Rotating Council officers leading WNRP projects

How can I find out more about community panels?

You can view community panel meetings held as part of the Alton Renewal Plan.

Watch a short video from the self-titled Community Design Collective about their experience.

Read information and case studies from Future of London about putting coproduction into practice.

I have more questions

Please contact Alison Gee, Resident Engagement Officer, who will be happy to help:

• Email: wyrcomms@dwandsworth.gov.uk