Jackmans Neighbourhood Plan
Across October and into November, we gathered feedback from Jackmans residents in a variety of ways, including surveys, ideas boards, the map tool, eight Neighbourhood Action Week events, and The Big Door Knock.
We’re pleased to share an update on the progress we’ve made so far based on your feedback, which will play a key role in shaping the draft Neighbourhood Plan for Jackmans.
When we asked for your thoughts on the five key areas we had previously identified as being important to your community, you told us that they didn’t fully reflect what matters most (scroll down to see what those five key areas were). Based on what you said, we’ve now revised these areas and updated the actions, which are outlined below.
These actions are still in the planning stage and may evolve further, but we want to keep you informed as we continue to develop them.
Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)
Check out what we're doing based on what you said! Click on a theme below to see progress so far.
You said: Sometimes I feel unsafe
- We did
- Carried out a community safety event in April in partnership with the local Police and Community Safety Team from North Herts Council
- Made sure CCTV across the estate is working as it should be
- Improved our anti-social behaviour service, making it easier for residents to share concerns with us and quicker for us to take action.
- September
We've updated how Settle manages reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB) and have now fully embedded our action plan, shaped by residents' feedback.
When reporting ASB, residents can now:
- Report directly through the online portal
- Access noise monitoring equipment to help us better manage noise-related cases
- Use a secure anti-social behaviour app to easily communicate with us, report ongoing issues, and submit evidence such as diary sheets and recordings.
These changes make it simpler for residents to share concerns with us and quicker for us to take action. You can view the full anti-social behaviour plan here.
We also met with local and county councillors, as well as the police, and we're pleased to hear that crime levels in the area have gone down. You can check out the latest local crime statistics for Jackmans here.
- June – July
CCTV at Ivel Court is now fully up and running. We carried out maintenance and the system is now working as it should, covering the shopping area for added reassurance.
In June, we also met with local councillors and the county councillor to talk about issues like anti-social behaviour around the estate and how we can work together to tackle them.
- April
We carried out a community safety event on the 4th of April in partnership with the local police and Community Safety Team from North Herts Council. We're pleased to share that most of the residents we spoke to said they felt safe in their neighbourhood. You can read more about the event here.
You said: You'd like a review of the CCTV across the estate
- We did
- Confirmed with the police that the camera in Ivel Court works, and trimmed the nearby tree to make sure it doesn't block the camera's view
- The police installed temporary CCTV across the neighbourhood in key areas where residents told us there's a lot of anti-social behaviour to help keep the area safe.
- September
Temporary CCTV cameras are now being installed across Jackmans by the police to help keep the area safe.
If you have any concerns, please:
- Call the police on 999 in an emergency
- Or report anti-social behaviour to us here.
- July
The local police have applied to install temporary CCTV cameras in key areas around your neighbourhood. These locations have been chosen based on where ongoing issues have been reported, and the cameras should help deter anti-social behaviour and support a safer environment once in place.
We'll keep you updated once these have been confirmed and when they go live.
- April – June
We've confirmed with the local police that the camera in Ivel Court is working as it should. We also reduced the nearby tree to make sure it doesn't block the camera's view!
The police are now reviewing other existing cameras across the neighbourhood to make sure they're in the best possible spots.
You said: There's not a lot of accessible support for people with addictions
- We did
- Held a community safety event alongside partner agencies focusing on ASB, hate crime and addiction support in April
- Held a Community Fun Day in August, bringing residents together alongside local organisations that support people affected by addiction and promote health, wellbeing and safety.
- September
A huge thank you to all local residents who joined us at the Community Fun Day in August!
Photo from the Community Fun Day
The afternoon was a great chance for residents to come together, enjoy family-friendly activities, and connect with local organisations offering support around health, wellbeing, and safety.
You can read more about the day here!
- July
We're holding a Community Fun Day on Thursday 28th August, and you're invited! It'll be a relaxed get-together with food, conversation, and local organisations who support people affected by addiction.
Join us at Jackmans Central Play Area (behind Jarden/Krykeby) on Thursday 28th August, from 12pm–3pm.
Community Fun Day poster - April – June
We carried out a community safety event on the 4th of April in partnership with the local Police and Community Safety Team from North Herts Council. You can read more about the event here.
We're also looking to arrange a community safety event alongside our partner agencies which will focus on anti-social behaviour, hate crime, and addiction support.
If you feel unsafe in your home or community and need support, please let us know here.
You said: There is anti-social behaviour in and around the flats and communal areas
- We did
- Carried out Safe and Well visits at Hadleigh and Ivel Court with the police and fire service
- Met with the local police to tackle concerns like off-road motorbikes being used on footpaths
- Added anti-climb paint in key areas around the shops at Ivel Court
- Teamed up with the police for two community meet ups to share any concerns or ideas you might have about your neighbourhood
- Improved our anti-social behaviour service, making it easier for residents to share concerns with us and quicker for us to take action.
- September
We've updated how Settle manages reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB) and have now fully embedded our action plan, shaped by residents' feedback.
When reporting ASB, residents can now:
- Report directly through the online portal
- Access noise monitoring equipment to help us better manage noise-related cases
- Use a secure anti-social behaviour app to easily communicate with us, report ongoing issues, and submit evidence such as diary sheets and recordings.
These changes make it simpler for residents to share concerns with us and quicker for us to take action. You can view the full anti-social behaviour plan here.
- July
We've met with the local police team to tackle concerns like off-road motorbikes being used on footpaths. Anti-climb paint has also been added in key areas around the shops to help prevent dangerous behaviour like climbing on the canopies.
We're also teaming up with the police for two community meetups this July:
- 📍 Allison – outside Garden City Academy, Thursday 27 July, 2–3pm
- 📍 Swanstand – behind King's Church, Monday 28 July, 12–1pm
It's a great chance to share any concerns or ideas you might have about your neighbourhood.
- April – June
We carried out our Safe and Well visits with residents at Hadleigh and Ivel Court, joined by the police and fire service.
During these visits, we had helpful conversations about a few important safety reminders – like avoiding smoking in communal areas, which can set off fire alarms, and keeping external doors closed so that only Settle residents and their guests can access the building.
You said: There is a lack of lighting that encourages anti-social behaviour
- We did
- We improved lighting around Ivel Court - fixing broken lights, installing brighter bulbs and adding extra lighting to help make the area feel safe.
- April
Our Neighbourhood teams are looking to work with Herts County Council (HCC) to improve lighting across Jackmans.
Community
Check out what we're doing based on what you said! Click on a theme below to see progress so far.
You said: You'd like more affordable youth activities
- We did
- Organised a meeting with Youth Connextions, North Herts Council, Active Communities and Jackmans Community Centre
- Help the community centre to regularly promote their community initiatives.
- August
Jackmans Community Centre is now offering more free and affordable youth activities - including a new Street Dance class starting on 4th October, running every Saturday!
They've also introduced activities for all ages, from Love to Dance and Karate Club to a lively Samba class.
To find out more, just check the Jackmans Community Centre calendar here.
- April – June
We're reviewing what is currently available in the community and how we can best support local groups and the community centre to communicate these activities.
We're also organising a meeting with Youth Connextions, North Herts Council, Active Communities and Jackmans Community Centre to explore more opportunities.
You said: You'd value having a wider range of activities in Jackmans
- We did
- Organised a meeting with Services for Young People, North Herts Council, Active Communities and Jackmans Community Centre
- Help the community centre to regularly promote their community initiatives.
- August
Jackmans Community Centre is now offering more free and affordable youth activities - including a new Street Dance class starting on 4th October, running every Saturday!
They've also introduced activities for all ages, from Love to Dance and Karate Club to a lively Samba class.
To find out more, just check the Jackmans Community Centre calendar here.
- April – June
We reviewed what was currently available in the community and how we can best support local groups and the community centre to communicate these activities.
We also organised a meeting with Services for Young People, North Herts Council, Active Communities and Jackmans Community Centre to explore more opportunities.
You said: You'd like to see improvements to the community centre
- We did
- We regularly meet with the community centre to support them where we can and to help promote their events
- We launched our Community Benefit Fund, offering local organisations the opportunity to apply for grant funding to improve their community. You can find out more about our Community Benefit Fund here.
- November
We'll continue to meet regularly with Jackmans Community Centre to support them where we can. We also know that many Settle residents live in the area and that this community is important to you. We'd encourage all local residents to support the community centre where possible.
- July – September
We're now reaching out to the community centre and other local representatives to explore how we might work together to support the neighbourhood.
- April – June
We're looking to meet with the community centre and North Herts Council (NHC) to discuss options.
You said: Ivel Court is a dull and uninviting area
- We did
- Planted over 100 new plants
- Improved lighting in three areas around Ivel Court
- Included this space in our ongoing maintenance contract.
- October – November 2024
We've planted over 100 new plants and made improvements to lighting in three areas around Ivel Court!
This space is now included in our ongoing maintenance contract to help keep it looking its best.
You said: You'd like improved access to life saving medical equipment
- We did
- Installed a defibrillator at Ivel Court in partnership with the Justin Edinburgh 3 (JE3) Foundation. If anyone nearby ever needs to call emergency services, they'll be directed to this location to access it quickly.
- November
We've now installed a defibrillator at Ivel Court! If anyone nearby ever needs to call emergency services, they'll be directed to this location to access it quickly.
You can read more about the defibrillator and the JE3 Foundation on our website here.
- October
We're looking at installing a defibrillator at Ivel Court in partnership with the Justin Edinburgh 3 (JE3) Foundation, similar to the one we installed at John Barker Place in Westmill last year.
Grounds Maintenance and Cleanliness
Check out what we're doing based on what you said! Click on a theme below to see progress so far.
You said: There is a lot of litter and fly-tipping
- We did
- Teamed up with the local school and displayed posters across Jackmans about how to dispose of litter properly
- Made it easier to report fly-tipping inside your communal areas through your online portal.
- February 2026
We're taking part in the Great Spring Clean Week in March 2026! Alongside partner organisations in the local area, we'll be facilitating a community clean up. This will involve litter-picking, cleaning up graffiti, weeding and more.
You'll find us in and around Jackmans on Friday 20 March, from 9:30am – 2:30pm. Check out the poster below for more info!
- October – November
You can now report communal cleaning issues and fly-tipping inside your communal areas through your online portal.
We're also working on adding grounds maintenance as we continue to come together as SettleParadigm.
- April – June
We teamed up with the local school, where students designed posters to encourage everyone in the neighbourhood to dispose of their litter properly. These posters have now been displayed around the area to help spread the message.
You said: There are a lot of overgrown areas that aren't being maintained
- We did
- Created our clean and green improvement plan focusing on our communal cleaning and grounds maintenance services
- Cut back overgrown areas at Ivel Court
- Cleared and reopened a space that was previously fenced off at Jackmans Community Centre
- Included Ivel Court in our ongoing maintenance contract.
- September
We're continuing to look after the green areas in Ivel Court. If you spot anything that doesn't look right, please let us know - you can get in touch with us here.
- June – July
We've cut back an overgrown area near Ivel Court, and the space that was previously fenced off by the community centre has now been cleared and reopened for residents to enjoy.
- April
We're working with our estates team and partners on this. You can find more details about what we're doing here.
You said: The cleaning standards in communal areas and blocks are not meeting residents' expectations
- We did
- Created our clean and green improvement plan focusing on our communal cleaning and grounds maintenance services
- Updated our website to improve how we explain what we're responsible for, how long things should take, and what each service includes - so residents know exactly what to expect.
- January 2026
We're publishing plans and schedules across schemes, covering both Settle and partner responsibilities, so you know what work is planned, who's carrying it out, and when.
You should start to see these appearing on your communal notice boards between now and April!
Our teams will also be out and about between now and March, visiting schemes to hear residents' views on the quality and frequency of our communal cleaning services. This helps us understand what's been working well and where we can improve.
- October
Our digital and estates teams have worked closely with the Voice of the Resident Panel to update the communal spaces pages on our website. The pages now clearly explain what we're responsible for, how long things should take, and what each service includes - so residents know exactly what to expect. You can also find up-to-date information on when communal cleaning will take place.
Take a look here!
We're now looking at sharing our communal cleaning schedules in our blocks, each with a QR code linking directly to our website - so you'll always have the most up-to-date information.
- September
Our digital team are updating the communal areas and shared spaces pages on our website to make them clearer and easier to use. These pages will explain what we're responsible for, how long things should take, and what our cleaning service includes - so you'll know exactly what to expect.
The Voice of the Resident panel are also reviewing the pages to make sure they meet residents' needs.
- April – July
We're working with our estates team and partners on this. You can find more details about what we're doing here.
You said: The bin areas in communal blocks are overflowing and aren't being collected frequently enough
- We did
- Shared feedback from residents directly with North Herts Council
- Worked with North Herts Council to add an extra bin to where a block had overflowing bins
- Added friendly reminder signs on bin store doors across Jackmans, to encourage everyone to dispose of their waste properly.
- September
Although bin collections are managed by your local council, we want to keep you informed and continue working closely with them to help keep your neighbourhood a great place to live.
If you notice any overflowing bins, please report this directly to North Herts Council.
To help keep things tidy, we've also added friendly reminder signs on bin store doors across the neighbourhood, encouraging everyone to dispose of their waste properly.
- June – July
We worked with North Herts Council to add an extra bin to a block where overflowing bins had been an issue. We're also continuing discussions with the North Herts Council waste team to explore further improvements.
- April
We'll share this feedback with North Herts Council. We're committed to working with local partners to help improve the area.
You said: There is not enough bike and buggy storage in the communal area
- We did
- Allocated dedicated storage at one of our flat blocks to help keep things safe and tidy
- Continue to monitor and look at other blocks where similar concerns are raised.
- July
We've allocated a dedicated storage area at one of our flat blocks to help with the safe and tidy storage of children's bikes and toys.
We're now working closely with residents to make the most of the space and keep shared areas clear for everyone.
We've also identified a few other blocks where similar concerns have been raised, and we're always looking at where improvements can be made.
- April – June
We're working with our estates team to make the most out of our current bike storage and maximise its use.
Parking and Traffic
Check out what we're doing based on what you said! Click on a theme below to see progress so far.
You said: There aren't enough parking spaces in some areas, which is leading to cars parking on corners and on grass verges
- We did
- Reopened the second car park at Ivel Court.
- June – September
We're happy to share that the second car park at Ivel Court has been reopened! Offering more convenient parking for both residents and community centre users.
- April
We're looking at options to create parking bays where possible.
You said: There isn't enough parking at Ivel Court
- We did
- Reopened the second car park at Ivel Court.
- June – September
We're happy to share that the second car park at Ivel Court has been reopened! Offering more convenient parking for both residents and community centre users.
- April
We're looking at options to create parking bays where possible.
You said: There are a lot of speeding cars, particularly near the school
- September
We'll be meeting with the local school parliament, County Councillor Sean Prendergast, and the police to raise residents' concerns about speeding around Denby, Hadleigh and Allison.
Changes to speed limits can sometimes take time. To stay up to date, you can find more information on the Hertfordshire County Council website.
- July
Our neighbourhoods team are looking to arrange a meeting with County Councillor Sean Prendergast, local Councillors, and the local police team to talk about concerns around speeding on the estate.
Councillor Prendergast is exploring the introduction of a 20mph speed limit in key areas of Jackmans. We'd also like to discuss possible ways to improve road safety around Denby, Hadleigh, and Allison, where residents have told us it can be difficult to pull out onto Radburn Way.
- April – June
We're working with our local partners and the police to address this matter.
You said: There are road maintenance issues, including potholes
- We did
- Identified and reported potholes and road maintenance issues raised by residents to Highways and FixMyStreet.
- June – July
We've identified some potholes in the neighbourhood and have reported them to Highways. If you spot any, you can report them too using this link: Road or cycle path – report a fault.
You can also check out the map of the area, which shows any outstanding faults and those that have already been resolved by Hertfordshire County Council.
- April
These roads are managed by Herts County Council. You can report, view, or discuss local problems on Fix My Street. These reports immediately get sent to the relevant authority.
October - November 2024
A huge thank you to all Jackmans residents for your involvement in the recent Neighbourhood Action Weeks and Big Door Knock visits!🙏🏼
Between 16 October and 8 November, we hosted various activities in Jackmans, focusing on the five key areas that residents identified as most important to them.
Through 700 Big Door Knock visits, community centre drop-ins, and a number of events as part of our Neighbourhood Action Weeks, here's what we learned from you...
These insights will shape your Neighbourhood Plan, which will outline key improvements and priorities for making your community safer, more welcoming, and a happier place to live.
We also wanted to respond to some concerns raised about the maintenance of the grounds, paths and roads in Jackmans. Some of this land is owned by Highways or North Herts Council. For areas we don't own but you've highlighted as needing improvement, we've passed along your comments to the relevant authorities. We'll share any updates from them as soon as we hear back!
Previously...
Between April 2023 to September 2024 we received valuable feedback from residents, helping us identify the areas that matter most in your community. We gained this feedback through Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSM's), Neighbourhood Action Weeks, Big Door Knocks, complaints, transactional surveys and more.
Here are the five key areas that were previously highlighted:
- A call for more community initiatives
- Anti-social behaviour concerns
- More litter picking and improved grounds maintenance
- Improved bin areas
- Residents’ meeting opportunities
We asked residents to let us know if they agreed with the five key areas above, or if they'd like us to focus elsewhere.
A message from Joe Williams, Executive Director of Customer Services
"I encourage all residents to join in on these important discussions, whether at community events or here on Settle Connect.
Your participation is key to making sure the commitments we make genuinely reflect the needs of your community and local neighbourhood. Where we are not directly responsible for an area or service, we will aim to work with the partners to make improvements." — Joe Williams
At Settle we are relentlessly resident focused. Our aim is to provide homes residents are proud of and build communities that are welcoming to all.
Our 2030 plan has been developed by feedback from residents, colleagues, and local partners with priorities and commitments shaped by what we know is important to you and your community. Neighbourhood Plans empower you to have a say in how we deliver the 2030 vision in your area.
We believe that working together with residents and community partners can create real opportunities for positive change in your neighbourhood.
