Format of presentation

1. Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD) A Fourth Dimension in Sustainable Urban Regeneration? Governance Structures, Sustainability and CSR in the Public and Private SectorsProf. Tim Dixon, Professor of Real Estate and Co-Director, OISD

2. Format of presentation • Background and context • Three strands (- are governance structures in crisis??): • ‘Hyperactive governance’ in the Thames Gateway (EPSRC SUBR:IM with Philip Catney and John Henneberry, Sheffield University) • ‘Central-local’ policy tensions: Barker review and brownfield supply (with David Adams, Glasgow University) • ‘Mainstreaming CSR’: corporate governance issues -- a ‘circle of blame?’ (EPSRC SUBR:IM AND EIB) • Conclusions Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD)

3. Importance of governance • Securing the Future: “Actively promoting effective, participative systems of governance in all levels of society – engaging people’s creativity, energy, and diversity”. • Sustainable Communities: need representative, accountable governance systems which both facilitate strategic, visionary leadership and enable inclusive, active and effective participation by individuals and organisations. • Concept of multi-level governance: • Complexity of policy making • Policy networks Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD)

4. Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD) ‘Hyperactive governance’: Thames Gateway

5. Biggest regeneration project in Western Europe: 120,000 homes planned for 2001-2016 Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD)

6. Governance structures Source: Channing, 2004 Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD)

7. Complex Policy Environments May undermine the effective delivery of brownfield regeneration by: • ‘bounding’ (restricting) the knowledge of policy implementers with regard to the precise relationships between policies, actors and development processes. • creating delays in the regulatory system through changing plans and technical guidance. • undermining ‘leadership’ in the gateway, and • promoting instability in development processes. Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD)

8. Mapping and Weaving Mapping • adopt the role of policy cartographers, plotting the course for ‘good’ implementation (network map). • create a sequential process for developers in particular places so that they know what organisations they need to work with to create an effective brownfield development. This could help to: • closely monitor the impact of policies at the local level (and evaluate their utility more accurately). • avoid creating new policies that are not needed or that would clash with existing policies or (development) processes. Weaving • Weaving entails ‘integrating competing and opposing forms of knowledge and coordinating the multiplicity of organisations and interests to form a coherent policy fabric.’ • Government’s role is to draw together the loose threads of knowledge that exist in the wider governance environment to produce a policy that integrates the fullest possible range of interests, values and beliefs. Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD)

9. Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD) The Barker Review of Housing: Brownfield Land Supply Issues

10. Barker Review of Housing • Barker Review can be portrayed primarily as a response to the regional growth implications of housing undersupply in London and the South East • Covered not merely England but the UK as a whole (also implications in Scotland). • However, Barker (2004: 13) herself acknowledged potential differences in response between the constituent devolved administrations: “This Review was established with a UK remit, but given the devolved nature of housing and planning policies, many of the recommendations apply only to England. The devolved administrations will need to consider for themselves whether these recommendations are appropriate to their own circumstances, in the light of the policy changes the UK Government decides to adopt.” • But ‘local’ differences could also pose problems in England…………… Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD)

11. Brownfield policy - England • Target setting – 2008 60% target exceeded • Currently 73% new dwellings are on brownfield land (excluding conversions) • Is there enough brownfield land to satisfy Barker requirements for increased housing supply? Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD)

12. Model of brownfield supply: England • Scenarios (2006-2016): • RPG (Regional planning guidance figures: base=148,000 dwellings pa) • ‘Low additional growth’ (25,000 additional market dwellings per annum); • ‘Medium additional growth’ (50,000 additional market dwellings per annum); and, • ‘High additional growth’ (100,000 additional market dwellings per annum). • Notional years’ supply = Stock / (Annual brownfield completions - less estimated new ‘flow’) (with 60% target) Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD)

13. Insufficient brownfield supply?: all brownfield land suitable for housing Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD)

14. Insufficient supply? Land with permission or allocated as suitable for housing Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD)

15. ‘Central-local’ tensions?? • Robinson (2003): ‘Housing Governance in the English Regions’ • Dangers in over-simplistic view of housing markets: regional and national differences • ‘One size fits all’ policy will not work: market variations • Supply constraints and ultimate shortages of brownfield land • Environmental issues • Greenfield land will need to be used to satisfy requirements of Barker • “What I did not want to do in the report was to duck the point that if we are going to increase the rate of house building inevitably we will increase the number of houses built on greenfield land. I think to have asserted that it would be possible to do all this extra on brownfield land, given the evidence we have had from English Partnerships about the work that needs to be done to continue to bring brownfield land forward, would not be right. Equally, that does not mean that I do not think we should continue with the 60% build on brownfield land, which I think is absolutely possible”. Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD)

16. Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD) ‘Mainstreaming CSR’: corporate governance issues: a ‘circle of blame?’

17. Response of property and construction industries • Major source of carbon emissions • ‘Circle of blame’ • Corporate governance is the set of processes, customs, policies, laws and institutions affecting the way a corporation is directed, administered or controlled plus relationships with the outside world. • But, changing landscape • Emergence of CSR • Sustainability agendas • Other key drivers: • Shareholder value • Legal requirements Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD)

18. Does reality match rhetoric? • Lip service to sustainability • Is CSR ‘greenwash’? (‘seductive illusion’: Porritt, 2004) • Social sustainability dimension often overlooked • Adams (2005) and (2006) - housebulding • SUBR:IM work (2004-2006) – development industry • EIB (and SUBR:IM) Evidence of good practice---Igloo Blueprint and Urban Splash • Private –public partnerships • Can the industry self-regulate? Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD)

19. Conclusions • ‘Wicked problems’? (RCEP, 2007) Complex systems? • Tensions in policy – e.g. environmental constraints v need for additional housing • Governance structures often outdated and do not ‘join up’ • ‘Self-regulation’ in the public and private sectors is problematic • Better linkages between SD and governance: • Work of Christie and Warburton (2001) • Need for governance structures to provide an integrated approach (mapping and weaving?) • Need for regulation and stronger policy guidance in private sector • Renewal of trust and local democracy between citizens and government Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD)

20. Thank you! Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD)