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Explore the benefits of community participation in neighbourhood planning and how it can lead to better development outcomes. Learn about the critical path and action plan for implementing community-led planning initiatives.
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LOCALISM AND NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING FIRST THOUGHTS FROM MICHAEL PARKES FORMER PLANNING WORKER KXRLG, CLAWS AND PAL MARCH 2011
PERSONAL BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT • MEMBER OF KXRLG . PLANNING WORKER 1990 – 2005 • PERSONAL VIEWS . • KXRLG HAS AS YET NO FORMAL POSITION ON THE BILL • SUPPORT THE BILL IN PRINCIPLE • MOVE FROM TOP DOWN PATERNALISM TO BOTTOM UP “HELPING PEOPLE TO HELP THEMSELVES” • WELCOME THE INSTITUTIONLISATION OF COMMUNITY PLANNING INTO FORMAL PROCESS AND PRACTICE • NEW DELIVERY AND FUNDING MECHANISMS • EVENTUALLY MERGE / SIMPLIFY LDF INTO SCS / LAA ?
COMMUNITY PLANNING NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING • SHOULD BE POSSIBLE IN ESTABLISHED NEIGHBOURHOODS • PREVIOUS RELATIVE SUCCESS ON FAR MORE CONTROVERSIAL MAJOR DEVELOPMENT SITES eg :- • KINGS CROSS RAILWAY LANDS INTERIM AND PERMANENT • ISLEDON ROAD (FPAG) (completely built) • SPITALFIELDS (BANGLADESHI CMTY DEV GROUP) • STONEBRIDGE ESTATE (TENANTS ADVANCEMENT C’EE) • ELEPHANT AND CASTLE 2001 / 2 (E & C CMTY DEV GRP) • WHITECHAPEL CROSSRAIL COMMUNITY LIAISON PANEL
COMMUNITY LED NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING PUBLIC / CVS / PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIP AND RESOURCES WILL BE KEY CREDIBILITY AND CAPACITY ON ALL SIDES
1 : COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION : WHY DO IT ? Community participation can lead to better planning and delivery by :- • Building in local knowledge, needs and circumstances • Developing local partnerships with important public and private sector interests • Building local “ownership” or a tangible stake in the product • Creating a better informed and empowered local community • Developing local capacity to manage, access funding and even deliver some of the local services and development eg Community Gardens, Community Nurseries
2 : COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION : WHY DO IT ? As a result the Plan is :- • Politically and practically deliverable • More responsive to demand • Easier to manage and maintain • More flexible in its response to changing circumstances • More economically efficient with potential for jobs and training for local people • More sustainable
FOREWARNED IS FORARMED • Inner City communities are not in my experience incapable of thinking strategically and are not necessarily “nimby” egKXRLG permanent development proposals 1990, • Regeneration is about People as well as Place. Disadvantaged communities would generally prefer to stay and get a “slice of the action” rather than be “squeezed out” through the unrestrained workings of the property market. • There is a legacy of distrust, as well as limited capacity, to be overcome • Access independent technical aid. • Access good research and practice.
COMMUNITY LED NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNINGFIRST THOUGHTS • CRITICAL PATH / ACTION PLAN : DO NOT START UNTIL PROCESS , STRUCTURES , RESOURCES, DEFINITION OF SOME / ALL NEIGHBOURHOODS ARE BROADLY IN PLACE • OVERVIEW / STEERING : USE COUNCILLORS / VAC / CEN / OTHER EXPERIENCE • BE PRAGMATIC – START WITH THE MOST ESTABLISHED , MANAGEABLE, LEAST CONTROVERSIAL , NEIGHBOURHOODS AND CUSTOMISE / ADAPT PROCESSES ACCORDINGLY • LIKELY TO BE RELATIVELY FREE OF DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE • OUTCOME MORE LIKELY TO BE ALONG SCS / LAA LINES • TEMPORARY USES AND SMALL SCALE SPATIAL AND NON SPATIAL OUTCOMES
SOME PREREQUISITES FOR PARTNERSHIP OR COLLABORATIVE WORKING • MAYBE, UP FRONT, A COMPACT OR CHARTER • THE ABILITY TO PUT YOURSELF IN OTHER PEOPLES SHOES - TO SPEAK A COMMON LANGUAGE OR DIALECTS OF THE SAME LANGUAGE • CAPACITY AND RESOURCES • TRUST AND COMMITMENT OVER TIME THROUGH THICK AND THIN • GENUINE / CREDIBLE / MUTUAL RESPECT / BEHAVIOUR • SOMETHING IN IT FOR BOTH / ALL PARTIES • COMPROMISE • BROADLY COMMON AGENDA AND OBJECTIVES / ACTION PLAN • SHARING OF INFORMATION / RESPONSIBILITY / POWER • WHILE APPRECIATING DIFFERENCES , SOME MEASURE OF EQUAL SAY • APPRECIATING AND MAXIMISING THE STRENGTHS AND PROGRESSIVELY ADDRESSING THE WEAKNESSES OF EACH PARTY • VALUE OF “EARLY WINS”
RESOURCESFIRST THOUGHTS • All Local Authority Planners , as part of CPD, to work at least one year in the Neighbourhood / community, as Community Planners. • Access / fund CEN and existing CVS networks and experience in Camden • Access existing Higher Education and University courses, teachers, students and researchers eg Bartlett School UCL • Access London wide independent expertise such as Planning Aid for London, Community Development foundation, London Civic Forum etc • Neighbourhood Council as a Community Development Trust ?