Section 1
Overview
Key features of Community Planning Events
Benefits of Community Planning Events
Why Community Planning Events work
Community Planning Event process
Philosophy
Interdisciplinary, collaborative and community-based
Design workshop at a Community Planning Event
“If more towns, villages and cities held regular, cathartic events which examined what exactly was happening to their citizens’ habitat and attempted to seek solutions which met with the broad approval of the public through a process which mixed professional, public and private interests we would have, I think, a much better country – one where the rejection of the architect would not be automatic and the dead hand of professional planning would be removed.”
Lee Mallett Journalist
Community Planning Events have not suddenly been invented. Rather, the technique has evolved – and is still evolving – from practical experience in many parts of the world. It can best be seen as part of an emerging technology of ‘community planning’ which makes it easier for people to participate in the creation and management of their built environment and enables developers and planners to use the experience and knowledge of local people to create better places.
The underlying philosophy of community planning is interdisciplinary, collaborative and community-based; enabling all those affected (known as ‘stakeholders’) to participate in the planning process. The premise is that better environments can be created if local communities are involved from an early stage, working closely and directly with a wide range of specialists. In arriving at the process described in this book, practitioners have drawn on experience from many disciplines including company management, human psychology and urban design.
As a clearly defined planning technique, Community Planning Events lasting 4 to 6 days (the main focus of this book) were pioneered over 40 years ago in the United States. By the mid 1990s over one-tenth of that nation’s population was estimated to have benefited from over 125 events in a programme run by the American Institute of Architects alone.* Other national, state and local institutions also promoted similar activity.
From the mid 1980s, Community Planning Events surfaced in Europe. The American approach was adapted to the different cultural conditions and fused with European regeneration experience.
Countless ‘community planning weekends’ and ‘urban design action team’ events lasting 4 to 6 days have now been held in the UK and mainland Europe. At the same time a variety of related initiatives have evolved, including 1-day ‘stakeholder participation days’, ‘Enquiry by Design’ events and urban design ‘task forces’ lasting several weeks.
The initiative for organising events has come mostly from professional institutions and practitioners keen to explore more creative methods. Developers, community organisations and local authorities have become willing supporters as they seized the opportunity to work positively with the other parties involved. Recently there has been increasing interest from national governments which have begun to see the economic and social benefits that can result. Statutory planning policy in some countries, the UK for instance, now encourages the methodology of Community Planning Events but does not yet specify when or how they should be organised.
In the meantime, events continue to be organised on an ad-hoc basis and the number of enthusiasts grows. An extraordinary feature of the Community Planning Event phenomenon is the way that people who have experienced one become convinced of their value.
There is still much systematic evaluation and refinement needed. But those involved in the development of this relatively new activity are confident it will come to play a major role in the future planning and management of human settlements worldwide.
Uses for Community Planning Events
• City futures
• Devising new visions for the future of a city or region
• Regeneration strategies
• For declining industrial or inner city areas
• Sustainable development strategies
• Developing strategies for sustainable development in the light of global warming
• Traffic solutions
• Resolving congestion in historic town centres or exploring new transport options
• Site proposals
• Devising and testing development proposals for sites or buildings
• Building design
• Exploring design options for historic or new buildings
• New towns
• Exploring the best way of building major new settlements or integrating new development with old
• Development plans
• Involving the public in the early stages of preparing statutory development plans
Key features of Community Planning Events
“I cannot think of another opportunity where such lengthy meetings can take place amongst experts in their own fields discussing issues to their bitter conclusion. This is incredibly stimulating since thought processes build on themselves exponentially and realistic solutions to seemingly impossible problems become apparent.”
Michael Baynes Development Surveyor
There are several common types of Community Planning Event and a variety of labels have been used to describe them. Common features are:
• Thorough preparation
Careful planning and organisation involving all key stakeholders.
• Intensive work
A fast-paced, intensive programme of work sessions – lasting for one or several days and sometimes spanning a weekend.
• Community participation (not just consultation)
Everyone affected is encouraged to be involved in developing and exploring ideas and options.
• Broad mission
All the problems and opportunities of a particular site, neighbourhood, city or region are examined in a holistic manner with minimum preconceptions.
• Multidisciplinary teamwork
People from all relevant disciplines and trades work closely together in a hands-on, non-hierarchical way.
• Expert facilitation
Events are mostly run by experienced, usually independent, facilitators. This helps provide a neutral forum for debate and confidence in the outcome.
• High-profile communication
Events are highly publicised to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to get involved and that results are widely disseminated. They normally end with a public presentation and written report.
• Rapid and ongoing feedback
Results are fed back to those participating and the wider public as quickly as possible and an ongoing relationship is established.
• Flexibility
The process can easily be adjusted to suit the needs of each particular community both during preparation and during the event.
Holistic vision
Illustrative masterplan for a new development to regenerate Caterham Barracks, Surrey, conceived and drawn up by John Thompson & Partners during a Community Planning Event and ongoing public participation.
Top: site as then existing
Benefits of Community Planning Events
Heightened public awareness
Walkabout during a Community Planning Event
“The process can make a significant contribution to the designing of a new development, delivering a much higher environmental, social and economic performance than has been the case of development over the past 60 years or so. Typically the process can achieve in one week a design vision that would normally have taken two years to achieve in the conventional planning system. This is due to the process being simultaneously interactive rather than the sequentially reactive process of the current system.”
The Prince’s Foundation
Community Planning Events can achieve objectives which are hard to achieve in any other way. These include:
• Creation of shared visions for a community’s future and identification of long- and short-term strategies for implementing them.
• Catalyst for action of all kinds by releasing blockages in the development process.
• Resolution of complex problems or at least a clearer identification of issues and goals.
• Revitalisation of local networks for community development.
• Fostering of consensus building among different interest groups leading to better integration and long-term partnerships.
• Promotion of urban design capability of local agencies and improvement of environmental standards.
• Heightened public awareness of development issues resulting from the provision of an open forum for debate.
• Morale boost for all those involved as a result of experiencing team working.
Shared visions
Getting public, private and voluntary sectors to move in the same direction. Cartoon depicting the main stakeholders at a Community Planning Event
Typical Outcomes
• Identification of issues and opportunities
• Agreed objectives and achievable targets
• Visions for an area’s future
• Agendas for action and action plans
• Proposals for a particular site or programme
• Suggestions for organisational changes
• Local coalitions and leadership
Typical Products
Immediate
Proposals for action set out in:
• Broadsheet and press release
• Illustrated report
• Exhibition
• Presentation (generally Powerpoint)
• Project website
Short term
• Local steering committees to follow up
• Periodic progress reports
• Draft development brief and/or draft tender
• Ongoing community forums to develop further ideas
Long term
• Ongoing programme of implementation
• Evaluation of the impact of the event
Community Planning Events are NOT:
• A substitute for a statutory planning framework.
• A substitute for long-term participatory programmes.
• A technique for consultation only; it is a participatory process.
• A way of replacing services of local professionals and officials.
• A way of imposing ideas on a community from outside.
Why Community Planning Events work
Sense of equity and trust
Post-it board at a Community Planning Event
“I know from my own experience that Community Planning Events can create a shared vision for regeneration and bring innovative solutions from the people who have to live with the effects. They instill a sense of ownership ensuring that the outcomes are more sustainable.”
David Taylor First Chief Executive English Partnerships
Community Planning Events ‘work’ because the process combines a unique mix of ingredients which respond to the complexity of today’s development issues:
• Open community involvement
There is scope for all members of the community, including minorities, to participate in a wide variety of ways. This can lead to a new sense of cohesion and consensus on goals, the formation of new partnerships and the development of a sense of equity and trust.
• Creative working methods
Professionals of all disciplines work in a hands-on manner with each other and with non-professionals in a neutral environment. This breaks down conventional professional boundaries and fosters understanding between people which can be magnetic; releasing spirit, humour, imagination, positive thinking and collective creativity.
• Dynamism
The carefully structured timetable creates a focus of public attention and provides deadlines for results.
• A critical mass of activity is generated creating momentum for change.
• Local expertise
Participation by local residents, businesses and professionals ensures that the whole process is embedded in the local context and runs smoothly. Inside knowledge of the urban or rural context is essential for a successful planning process.
• Fresh thinking
The intensive and collaborative process provides an opportunity for new ideas and new ways of working which can overcome past divisions and indecision. So previously unimagined proposals can emerge.
• Visual approach
The use of urban design techniques of drawing and model-making provides an easily accessible way for people to think about, and communicate, visions for their community’s future.
• Realism
The process addresses the physical, natural, social and economic environments as they are – rather than as abstract concepts – and ensures that the community’s real concerns are placed on the agenda.
Unique chemistry
Professionals, local residents, politicians and developers take time off for group photographs
Community Planning Event Process
What the four main parties involved do during the four phases of any event
*Timescales
Community Planning Events can be of varying lengths but the process remains more or less the same. The length of the event and the lead times will be determined by the nature of the issues faced and the extent and capacity of existing local networks. Timescales shown above have been found to be the most effective for major urban design issues of, say, a neighbourhood or city. Compressed timescales work well for simpler issues such as making proposals for a single site. Shorter lead times are possible where local networks are well developed. Longer lead times can be useful for building community capacity. (See also Flowchart perspectives on page 104.)
“It’s a fantastic way of putting a major scheme together and could revolutionise the way we do commercial development.”
Barry Wick developer
Organising
Steering Group meeting for key stakeholders to prepare for a Community Planning Event (top); organiser’s team meeting (bottom)
