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Consultancies
Since 1988 we have been working in community development, participation and consultation. During this time we have built up a wealth of experience which is of enormous benefit to both our clients and the community.
We provide a consultancy service to Local Authorities, Housing Associations, Regeneration Agencies, Health Authorities, government agencies and other bodies.
Our key development tool, “Planning for Real®” provides a means of giving local people a voice, and professionals a clear idea of local peoples’ needs.
“Planning for Real®” is a flexible tool and has been effectively employed in heavily urban areas such as inner city London, in very rural areas in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, in very diverse communities, for example those found in Birmingham and in very divided communities such as Newtownhamilton in South Armagh.
We have developed a “Planning for Real®” Pack for many situations including urban and rural areas with versions also available for all school Key Stages.
East Dulwich, London
Introduction
The East Dulwich Estate is a medium-sized council estate in the south London borough of Southwark. Built in the early 1930s by the London County Council, it consists of 22 blocks and 740 flats, in the brick-built style typical of this era.
Following an initial consultation in autumn 1998 by a private consultancy, tenants and residents on the estate were deeply shocked to receive a letter from Southwark in February 1999, announcing that the council had decided (2 months earlier in December 1998), and without consultation on this, to demolish six blocks on the estate and sell off the land to private developers.
There was understandably a strong reaction against this, and people on the estate have campaigned long and hard ever since against plans for demolitions. However, Southwark has continued to insist that up to 6 blocks be demolished and land sold to raise just under £5 million towards an overall regeneration scheme of £20 million.
In December 2000, tenants and residents agreed to establish a "Project Team" (PT) to discuss details of any potential scheme with Southwark. And in March 2001, the PT voted unanimously in favour of appointing an independent, non-profit organisation to undertake, for the first time, a proper and thorough consultation around tenants' genuine views on what should happen on their estate. The PT also insisted that any final decision on the estate must be taken in a ballot of all tenants and residents.
Despite initial scepticism, council officers agreed to this, and Planning for Real® were appointed to carry out the independent consultation.
Methodology
We spent June to August 2001 preparing for the "Planning for Real®"® day, which was held in September 2001 - making a model of our estate, and also designing and distributing our own questionnaire.
113 people participated in the PfR day, and 1251 options cards were used on our model. The questionnaire received a relatively high response rate of 32%.
A key finding was that 60% would oppose demolitions if it led to a reduction in the amount of Council housing on the estate.
A major outcome of the consultation concluded that "doubts are consistently raised about whether demolition is effectively funding non-essential, even excessive, standards and measures of regeneration..... many tenants might simply prefer basic top priority improvements if, in doing so, demolition could be avoided".
The results further highlighted that "following the PfR event, tenants have questioned the funding, decanting, rehousing and future management implications of this strategy", and that "the Council strategy will ..... require much further refinement and explanation if it is to command the majority support of tenants and residents on the estate".
At the moment, the Projects Team has no resources of its own, and members of the PT have to lend each other staplers, hole-punchers etc. in order to get the most simple things done, such as sending out mailings. But we have now set up a bank account and will be seeking funds to support our future activities. We are also trying to improve the flow of information between people on the estate.
And a very recent professional survey of the estate has confirmed the basic structural soundness of the estate - "the surveys do not point to any of the blocks being in such a structural condition to warrant demolitions" - exactly what we have always argued. Despite all the problems, we are still as determined as ever that we are not going to be pushed around and that people on the estate are going to have the final say in what happens here.
Summing Up
We would like to thank Planning for Real® for providing a very participatory - and cost effective - service to people on the estate and to Southwark council.
Isle of Axholme Greenway Project
Introduction
The project was set up to look into the development of a Greenway network on the Isle of Axholme, (possibly using derelict railways as a central backbone) which would help to maintain the area's unique access, linked to its historic landscapes.
Aim
To enable the residents of the Isle of Axholme (and particularly those living in Haxey village) to put forward their ideas and suggestions on the proposed Greenway for the Isle.
Objectives
1. To develop Greenway designs appropriate to the needs of the local people.
2. To identify problems and opportunities for the future development of the Greenway.
3. To develop a group of local community representatives who would be more directly involved in the future development of the greenway.
The Aim and Objectives given in the first phase of this report were redefined following the events outlined in Haxey. The revised aim and objectives were:
Revised Aim
To consult the residents of the Isle of Axholme on the unique access on the Isle and how to maintain and improve it in relation to its unique landscape history and ecology.
Revised Objectives
1. To identify problems and opportunities for the future of access on the Isle of Axholme
2. To develop access proposals appropriate to the needs of all the key stakeholders, including local people and visitors
3. To develop a group of key stakeholder representatives (including local people) who would be more directly involved in the future management of the access.
The development of a Greenway may still play a role in this development but is not a pre-requisite.
Description of the Area
The consultation was about the development of a Greenway network throughout the Isle of Axholme and beyond. The Isle is a historically fascinating area in North Lincolnshire through the middle of which runs a disused railway track bed formerly built to aid transportation of farm produce to market. The area is still an extremely important farming area, dominated by wide flat open expanses broken by areas such as Axholme, which are former islands prior to drainage in the 17 century. There are still a number of important and interesting land-use practices including strip farming and associated traditions. there are a number of other interesting visual landscape features around the isle including some impressive churches and a number of old windmills. The area is probably best known as being the home of Methodism and for the large numbers of coached visitors, many from America, visiting the area.
The current railway track has become quite overgrown and provides an important visual belt of trees and shrubs through the landscape as well as an important wildlife corridor in an open field system. It is currently used by walkers and cyclists on an informal basis and is seen as an important wild recreational asset to local people.
Along the route are a number of features including the recreation area near Epworth, which has open grass, a play area, toilets (known for undesirable activity) ponds, car parking and picnic benches.
There are numerous linking footpaths, small public lanes and farm tracks along the route which runs north-south through the 'island'. North of the 'island' is the M180 (which may be passable in the future and allowing links to a National Sustrans route, which runs east - west approximately 40 miles north.
The track bed is still quite solid but has drainage problems in a number of places. Some of the bridges have now collapsed and around the Epworth area, part of the track is now lost to commercial development. Whilst much of the track bed is owned by the Council, there are exceptions and again the main area of concern is around the Epworth area.
Methodology
The process was run by Ian Goldthorpe from the North Lincolnshire Council and supported by Steve Evison of Planning for Real®.
A number of elements were included:
1. Initial mailing around key interest groups and others in the area who had expressed an interest
2. A training event for local facilitators and local government support staff. In the event, this only occurred in Haxey (due to the poor initial response to requests for supporters/facilitators).
3. Model making of the village centre with Haxey Primary School prior to the first event.
4. A simple interactive exercise with Haxey pupils to discuss possibilities - focused on the railway line through the village.
5. Children at all the local schools made simple card cycle hats with the dates and venues publicised on them to take home and show their parents.
6. All day Planning for Real® events at Haxey, Belton and Epworth, all of which started around 10.00am and continued into the evening - generally 7.30pm
7. Interactive mini Planning for Real® event type activities with primary school children at both Belton and Epworth.
8. Informal discussions with local residents, shop-keepers and others in all three villages.
Telephone: 01724 297387 or 01724 297388
Email: Tim Allen or Bob Dawson or Pete Bailey
Marshfield Bank, Crewe
Introduction
The aim of the project was to consult with the local community on the development of a corner of the Marshfield Bank Employment Park into a community woodland and nature conservation site. The Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation were asked by Marshfield Green Watch Group to undertake a “Planning for Real®” consultation on this development. The consultation area is situated in a corner of Marshfield Bank Employment Park, on the western edge of Crewe. The area in the immediate vicinity of the proposed community woodland site is predominantly residential and industrial. The employment site is still developing, and the conservation/wildlife site will eventually be completely enclosed by this development and housing. The proposed site is of a diverse nature with various habitats, including rough grassland, trees and shrubs with open water and marshy areas. Great Crested Newts, a protected species, have been found on the site.
Methodology
Two local schools helped with making the model. Members of Marshfield Green Watch Group were given training in “Planning for Real®”, and two “Planning for Real®” consultation events were held with Green Watch members acting as facilitators. The model formed the focus of the consultation and there was also supplementary information and displays of information and photographs by the Green Watch Group.
Over 90 people took part in the consultation. As participants were leaving the consultation, they were invited to fill in a pin board that asked “Do you think it is important that this site is protected?”. Of the 78 who answered, all but 1 agreed it was important. There were 395 cards placed on the model. The most popular suggestions were those concerned with nature conservation. In addition, there was consensus that a footpath is needed and that there should be disabled access into the site. Those taking part would like to see bird and bat boxes, litterbins and a wildlife viewing hide. People were concerned about dog mess and the need for a dog walking area. Planting to encourage wildlife and planting more trees also received a high number of suggestions.
A prioritising session was held in May with approximately 15 people. Many of the suggestions were prioritised as NOW, high priority, and identified as being things the Green Watch Group can do on their own, for example planting to encourage wildlife, clean up the area, provide bird boxes, provide and information board and replant trees.
Summing up
The consultation was very successful in that it reached a wide age range and participants included many local residents and school children. Several of the participants expressed an interest in being involved further with the group, and many of the children who took part also expressed an interest in further involvement.
The results show that there is interest in the site despite ongoing problems with vandalism. A number of projects have been highlighted through the consultation that the Green Watch Group could take on, either themselves or in partnership, and others for which they could apply for funding. Other extra uses for the site have been suggested, such as an area for community events and areas for dog walkers, with other areas kept dog free.
Moor Allerton Estate, Leeds
Introduction
In 1999, Leeds City Council introduced Community Involvement Teams. A key component of their function is to produce Community Plans. These plans provide a framework for improvements to service delivery and to support targeted neighbourhood regeneration.
The Moortown, North and Roundhay Community Plan 2001/2002 was published following the success of a community survey and follow up consultation events. The plan outlines key issues and actions covering all aspects of community life. However, within this much larger area, is that identified as the Moor Allerton SRB 5 area. This was designated as an SRB 5 area in 1999, because of indicators such as crime rates, benefit dependency, unemployment, housing demand, infant mortality and life expectancy. These indicators highlight that the area is suffering from deprivation and in need of targeted regeneration. SRB 5 Government regeneration funding is therefore made available to tackle deprivation and improve the neighbourhood.
The Leeds 17 Community Facilities Group, made up of local residents, local city councillors, local authority officers and other representatives from key organisations in the area, have a strong interest in working together to improve facilities across the Moor Allerton Estates. Having secured SRB 5 and Moortown, North & Roundhay Community Involvement Team funding to find out the views and aspirations of the residents that live in the SRB 5 Moor Allerton area, they commissioned Neighbourhood Initiatives to undertake a “Planning for Real®" consultation. It was felt that the process and results of the consultation would help identify further projects important to the community and bring together others interested in driving forward and delivering on some of the ideas.
Aims and objectives
- To develop a local action plan, from problems identified and suggestions put forward by local residents
- To work with the Leeds 17 Community Facilities Group to develop and implement the detail of the programme
- To carry out a community consultation programme and achieve community participation using “Planning for Real®" as the principal tool
- To facilitate open access, drop in “Planning for Real®" events including events aimed at young people
- To carry out prioritisation and action planning with residents based on the problems / suggestions put forward at the “Planning for Real®" events
- To produce a final report detailing the consultation process and listing the findings of the exercise in the form of an action plan suitable for implementation and continued community involvement.
Outputs
The results revealed that people are most concerned about crime, leisure and traffic issues in the area. Other issues considered included the environment, community , employment and training, health and housing.
Some other positive outcomes of the process include:
- Residents/key workers provided with an opportunity to learn new skills and build confidence through delivered training and experience of involvement
- Opportunity given to everyone to “have a say” through a participative and enjoyable experience of consultation
- Partnerships strengthened and a new group established to take forward and implement some of the outcomes.
