It’s been ten years since work started on the transformation of Brunswick in Manchester. This city centre neighbourhood has seen over 500 new homes built and 650 refurbishments completed in and around new public realm and community facilities.
Buttress with S4B started by talking to the community about what they wanted their neighbourhood to be; and now we are back to find out what the experience of living in Brunswick is like for its residents.
Our first story comes from Olga Usma who has lived in Brunswick for 17 years.
My name is Olga Usma, and I am from Kyiv in Ukraine, and work in the civil service. I came to the UK when I was 25, and I've lived on the estate now for 17 years. I'm single and have to support my two daughters, and wanted to be closer to my work, so I applied for my house here on the estate, and moved from Chorlton.
It has changed around here. It's improved a lot since I moved in. I remember when I was offered the place I thought it looked dodgy, felt unsafe, but I just had to take to the risk.
The allotment was supposed to be for me initially, but then mom came to stay with me, and she's a great gardener, so she took over and has done a really great job. She planted potatoes, which I thought was a ridiculous idea, as you can buy them in the shops. But she wanted them fresh. She also wants tomatoes, which I think is a waste of space, but it's her domain now. We grow plenty of garlic and if it was up to me I'd cover the whole garden with raspberry bushes and cucumbers!
I love Manchester, it's so friendly. What else do you need, everything is here! I don't use my car much, I can walk everywhere from here, and I'm close to outdoor areas such as the Peak District, Wales or the Lakes, although I still think there could be more green spaces for kids. City Centre living is best if you're an adult, with theatres, cinemas clubs and things like that, but its not the same for children.
My mum is safely here with me, not in Kyiv, it's a very uncertain future though. It is very peaceful here, and people are happy, but somewhere people are dying. We just need to enjoy this peace while it lasts. That's life, that's how it is.