understanding and changing places- geoff wright, planning workshop 27th november 2013

Understanding and Changing Places

Geoff Wright

GW Planning

Geoff Wright MADE 27th November 2013

Local Plans

• Why produce a plan?• One of local government’s key influencing tools• Achieve regen and/ or growth (econ, social benefit)• Influence the development market• Achieve some consensus/ certainty

• How should we plan?• Top down, bottom up?• Wide or limited community engagement?• Leading or coordinating?

• What plan?

GW Planning


Local and Neighbourhood Plans

• Localism Act 2011• National Planning

Policy Framework• Up to date Local

Plan• Rules of the game-plan led if ‘compliant’

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Planning for places

Tell the story

Set the agenda

Say it clearly


Key findings

‘you have the passion, and the knowledge in

your head. We’ve heard it today, and now we

just need to see it written’ – panel member


Key findings

“The focus should be

on places, not on

themes and housing

numbers.” – panel

member

Key findings

‘We really need to focus on place, and the areas

that make up the place. How does it feel and

work now and into the future.’ - panel member



Key findings

“Unless you’ve got some clearer direction in

here, you won’t get what you want.”

Tower Hamlets Core Strategy


Tell the story – why and how?

quality of place matters (not generic policies)

history, context, physical characteristics

the people and communities that live there

how the area functions and relates to others

localities that are stable or need action

the particular opportunities a place offers

specific and locally relevant vision


Set the agenda – why and how?

local leadership focus the benefits of change promote the place based possibilities work out how old and new should relate be clear how the future can be delivered outline how and when things could happen


Say it clearly – why and how?

help people understand and engage clear expectations influencing developers prioritise the key issues selective and concise, using plain english use graphics, maps and photographs

Principles of settlement design

“Our predicament is this; we admire one kind of place but we consistently build

something very different”Andres Duany, Congress for the New Urbanism

PLACES NOT PROCEDURES


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Market_Place,_Pocklington_-_geograph.org.uk_-_59103.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Market_Place,_Pocklington.jpg


Set the agenda – why and how?

• local leadership• focus the benefits of change• promote the place based possibilities • work out how old and new should relate• be clear how the future can be delivered• outline how and when things could happen


Think 3D- Place Shaping

• Responding to topography• Spreading jam or sculpting volumes?• Urban/ suburban typologies• Capacity for intensification


Think Green• Green Infrastructure• Strategic green space/ parks and sports• Green fingers/ networks/ paths• River and canal corridors

Think Transport

• Joined up journey experience• Hubs as focus for development • Movement corridor implications• Differentiate busy and quieter

places



Street structure-connected or disconnected?


• Density comparators• No one size fits all• Floorspace/ numbers

Fitting In, adding something special or just building?



Neighbourhood Plan Compliance

• designated body (PC)• meet needs, plan

‘positively’• ‘sound’ evidence

base• support of

referendum• LPA confirms• Inspector checks


Neighbourhood Plans

• Why produce a plan?• Taking control/ responsibility?• Community voice/ empowerment?• Vision for the future?

• How should we plan?• Inclusive/ sharing info/ using local knowledge• Consultation• Consensus

• What plan?• ???


• Historic (planned) heart• Civic square• Significant open areas• Ribbons and groups

Sherston-structure


• housing estates • lifestyle changes• shops/ services• schools, facilities• environment, safety• traumatic?

100 yrs of change at Sherston


Sherston-structure

Compact

Walkable

Connected?

Choices for future

North, West, East?


Sherston-Options for 2028

• Limited change (trend) c80 homes• Very limited change c40 homes• Go for (some) growth c120 homes

• Infill/intensify?• Change green edge(s)?• Change use/balance jobs&services?


What sort of plan?

Projects list • Default option (schedules planning approvals

plus local projects) Charter for change• More of/ less of -directions of travel • Manifesto (avoids detail)Detailed Plan • Fully resolved allocations/ briefing• Locally generated, endorsed by District Council

And Finally-Cautionary Tales

• The only way is (not) Essex• Development management versus vision?• Tyranny of the SHLAA?


GW Planning

understanding and changing places- geoff wright, planning workshop 27th november 2013

Technology

happengeoff wright

intensificationgeoff

photographsgeoff wright

clearlygeoff wright

places geoff wright

compliant geoff wright

panel membergeoff wright

new urbanismgeoff wright