A Housing Policy F.I.T for the Big SocietyA Housing Policy F.I.T for the Big SocietyCo-producing a believable policy storyCo-producing a believable policy story
“They are not normal”They are not normal”
International Cooperative Alliance, London October 2010International Cooperative Alliance, London October 2010
Stephen Hill, Director, Stephen Hill, Director, CC22OO futureplanners futureplanners
Please, Mister,
tell me
that Big Society
story
…again!
Please, Mister,
tell me
that Big Society
story
…again!
…and they all lived
happily together
ever after.…and they all lived
happily together
ever after.
The Big Picture Story… The Big Picture Story… The The Big Society Big Society and and Open Source Open Source PlanningPlanning
…. everyone has a stake based on equal rights and where they pay their dues by exercising responsibility in return, and where local communities shape their own futures.
“Too much has been imposed from above, when experience shows that success depends on communities themselves having the power and taking the responsibility.
It’s no good officials in Whitehall or even the Town Hall telling people what is needed in their street.”
Letter to Letter to the Editor the Editor Prescott’s ‘growth areas’ pull plans for thousands of homesBuilding Magazine 6/08/10
““Dear Sir,Dear Sir,The The ‘big society’‘big society’ is working is workingwell, then.well, then. Up and down theUp and down theland, land, local communitieslocal communitieshave overwhelminglyhave overwhelminglyagreed agreed they don’t wantthey don’t want any anynew neighbours.new neighbours.Yours etc”Yours etc”
(Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells? )(Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells? )
MP for Tunbridge WellsMP for Tunbridge Wells
““It’s a very It’s a very miserable miserable view of human view of human nature, that people nature, that people who are not told what who are not told what to do, default to to do, default to something that is something that is short termshort term, , individually individually selfishselfish, , and and unenlightenedunenlightened.”.”
Greg Clark, Minister for Planning and Greg Clark, Minister for Planning and Decentralisation, Decentralisation, Guardian Interview 15/9/10Guardian Interview 15/9/10
600 home scheme in Tonbridge Wells turned down to protect the dormice
Housing Housing Policy Policy for afor a Big Society Big Society
We need a We need a shared shared visionvision of what of what housing is housing is forfor in in the life of the the life of the countrycountry
……but what but what housing housing policy?policy?
Purpose & Process Purpose & Process of of co-productionco-production
• ““We will be hosting public meetings to engage with We will be hosting public meetings to engage with individuals, those active in civil society and social individuals, those active in civil society and social entrepreneurs on all aspects of the big society, but entrepreneurs on all aspects of the big society, but in particular how the network can best support in particular how the network can best support individuals to come together in groups at local level.”individuals to come together in groups at local level.” Big Society Network invitation [Network staff=6 civil servants]
• “If we can answer this, then it is possible to genuinely allow communities to have more involvement.”
Greg Clark interview
The story of The story of community housingcommunity housing… … as told by as told by thethe normal people normal people
• More More expensiveexpensive than…? than…?• More More riskyrisky than…? than…?• More More complicatedcomplicated than…? than…?
• DifficultDifficult people…? people…?• DifficultDifficult schemes…? schemes…?
Quite probably, because Quite probably, because
they want to do they want to do more than…. more than…. NORMALNORMAL
Some Some not normalnot normal schemes: schemes: Models for Models for bottom upbottom up housing housing and and open sourceopen source planning planning
““At last, it’s At last, it’s notnot Vauban” Vauban”
Smiley West, KarlsruheSmiley West, Karlsruhe
A grown up A grown up politicspolitics of design of design…secure by …secure by living togetherliving together
““Managing our Managing our co-existenceco-existence in shared space in shared space”” Prof.Prof. Patsy Healey – Definition of Patsy Healey – Definition of Spatial PlanningSpatial Planning
“TheThe innovation in Germanurbanism in the last decade”
Coop Mika, KarlsruheCoop Mika, Karlsruhe
Diversity and maturity in mainstream politics and housing markets - Germany
TTüübingen Südstadtbingen Südstadt
Hamburg, Leipzig….Hamburg, Leipzig….
Project Vauban, FreibergProject Vauban, Freiberg
The TThe Tüübingen way…bingen way…Co-production of shared spaceCo-production of shared space
The English way…space as The English way…space as commoditycommodity
Trust…Trust…in the design in the design code…code…
At Vauban…this is At Vauban…this is allall there is …andthere is …andco-productionco-production
through through dialoguedialogue
How How manymany pages does pages does youryour Design CodeDesign Code have? have?
Alternative Alternative publicpublic practice practice
• Pelham Grove Coop N17• The Game>>Planning for
Real• Brief: “not look like a
council house”
40 years40 years on- on-Sanford Coop, Sanford Coop, Railway Cuttings,Railway Cuttings,Lewisham…Lewisham…60%60% cut in cut in COCO2 2
Argyle Street Argyle Street CoopCoopCambridgeCambridge
Half Moon Crescent TMC Half Moon Crescent TMC LBLB IslingtonIslington
Wesley Square Co-ownership, Wesley Square Co-ownership, North KensingtonNorth Kensington
Community and Private Community and Private Self-buildSelf-buildThe Diggers, Brighton • “ a microcosm of what could be
achieved on other sites all over the other sites all over the countrycountry by harnessing the imagination and skills of ordinary imagination and skills of ordinary peoplepeople.”
• “that indefinable qualityindefinable quality which marks out the outstanding from the excellent
DETR Housing Design Award citation 1998
Sussex Road, London N19 1999
Old people Old people look after look after themselves… HAPPIerthemselves… HAPPIerandand cheaper cheaper than the than the councilcouncil
Tenant Management Tenant Management Coop Coop
355355 Queensbridge Rd Queensbridge Rd
Springhill Springhill Co-housingCo-housing Stroud, Stroud, UKUK
““Weirdy…they are Weirdy…they are not normalnot normal.”.” Ward Councillor (from the Big Society Party) Ward Councillor (from the Big Society Party) at Planning Committeeat Planning Committee
Definite
ly
Definite
ly not
not norm
al…
normal…
Threshold Threshold Centre, DorsetCentre, DorsetFirst HCA grant fundedFirst HCA grant funded mixed tenure mixed tenure co-housingco-housing
Shared facilitiesShared facilities include: include:• The stone farmhouse for visiting The stone farmhouse for visiting
guests, and shared meals guests, and shared meals • 1 acre community market garden1 acre community market garden• LaundryLaundry• Car poolCar pool
CommitmentsCommitments for all residents: for all residents: • 4 hours per week of unpaid time to 4 hours per week of unpaid time to
help look after the shared help look after the shared facilities, and do cookingfacilities, and do cooking
• 1 car and 1 pet per household1 car and 1 pet per household• Paying share of the running costs Paying share of the running costs
of shared facilitiesof shared facilities• Before taking up residence, Before taking up residence,
spending up to 4 nights here, for spending up to 4 nights here, for the new resident and community the new resident and community to get to know each other. to get to know each other.
Hearthstone Hearthstone CohousingCohousing N. Denver, N. Denver, ColoradoColorado33 leasehold houses and flats with a 4,800 sq. ft. common house on a 1.6 acre site.
The community was first phase of a ‘new urbanist’ redevelopment in the historic North Denver neighbourhood.
Commercial Commercial and and political political good sensegood sense• Attracting a particular kind of Attracting a particular kind of
resident, where the resident, where the market market may be weakmay be weak, but , but opportunity is rareopportunity is rare
• Reducing riskReducing risk through pre- through pre-sales and pre-allocationssales and pre-allocations
• Preserving affordability Preserving affordability in in perpetuityperpetuity
• Living marketing - new Living marketing - new residents actively occupying residents actively occupying early phases early phases
• Stewardship committed to Stewardship committed to the the long term successlong term success of the of the placeplace
• Increasing and Increasing and retaining retaining valuevalue within neighbourhood within neighbourhood for the benefit of residents for the benefit of residents and investors. and investors.
Wick Village TMC, HackneyWick Village TMC, Hackney
Spatial Planning Spatial Planning &Placeshaping &Placeshaping OutcomesOutcomes• Community Community membership membership
and ownershipand ownership• AllAll incomes and tenures incomes and tenures• Medium and high Medium and high densitydensity• Value for moneyValue for money• Long termLong term stewardship stewardship• Life in the Life in the space between space between
the buildingsthe buildings• Social Capital for the Social Capital for the care of care of
the place and peoplethe place and people• Resident Resident satisfactionsatisfaction and and
wellbeing wellbeing • Sustainable living and Sustainable living and
resilience through resilience through social social organisationorganisation
… …social cohesion???social cohesion???
Definite
ly
Definite
ly not
not norm
al…
normal…
Ye Olde Placeshapynge and Ye Olde Placeshapynge and Spatial Plannyng…Spatial Plannyng…
““The The exceptionalexceptional urban urban and environmental and environmental qualities we esteem in qualities we esteem in many of our older cities many of our older cities were achieved with a were achieved with a very modest inputvery modest input of of resources, and by resources, and by a a careful and evolving careful and evolving responseresponse to the needs to the needs of their inhabitants.”of their inhabitants.”Ralph Erskine, Ralph Erskine, ArchitectArchitect
Social Housing ProviderSocial Housing Provider of the Year of the Year 20042004
Decidedly normal…
Decidedly normal…
Public Interest Public Interest DesignDesign CodeCode
143 pages143 pages
“…“…uniformly depressing”uniformly depressing” Another developerAnother developer
““It’s like Beirut…”It’s like Beirut…” Germaine Greer in the Guardian, September 2009Germaine Greer in the Guardian, September 2009
A Prize-winning street?A Prize-winning street?
Who will be Who will be responsible?responsible?
What are these What are these spaces spaces for?for?
Maintenance?Maintenance?
Design?Design?
Workmanship?Workmanship?
Who Who will will decide?decide?
A. A. “The Resident Management Company”“The Resident Management Company”
Coproduction Coproduction needsneeds
new ideas about…new ideas about…• SkillsSkills and Competence and Competence• Control and Control and
AccountabilityAccountability• ScaleScale• Self-helpSelf-help• CommercialCommercial• Social EnterpriseSocial Enterprise• Mixed economyMixed economy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjrIVjSK6oA
SPAN Housing – BlackheathSPAN Housing – BlackheathThe Ralph Erskine The Ralph Erskine Test of time, Test of time, and skills andand skills and ideas we have lostideas we have lost
The Hall and Hallgate, Blackheath 1957
The trouble with planners is…The Architect in Society, Keith Godwin
SPAN Housing at Corner Green…SPAN Housing at Corner Green…
……50 years on50 years on
““Resident-controlled Resident-controlled management companies may management companies may sound dully utilitarian, but have been sound dully utilitarian, but have been crucial to their crucial to their successsuccess.”.” Tony Aldous, former resident and architectural writer
““My particular interest My particular interest was the formation of was the formation of the the courtyardcourtyard which I which I thought was a dead thought was a dead space. [It] is not a space. [It] is not a dead space. It is dead space. It is actually actually circulationcirculation””Eric Lyons
Failure of Failure of top-downtop-down planning and planning and housinghousing• ImpoverishedImpoverished design and design and
quality of placequality of place• Unrealistic Unrealistic expectations expectations
of house buildersof house builders as as placeshapersplaceshapers
• Planning as Planning as remoteremote……controlcontrol‘Too big, too dense ‘Too big, too dense and too near me…and too near me…not not for us or for us or withwith us us’’
• Affordability Affordability permanently permanently lostlost
• Central housing Central housing targetstargets are are not spatial planningnot spatial planning
• DemocraticDemocratic deficit deficit
The Legacy of the N
ormal…
The Legacy of the N
ormal…
Key Key planning and housing policiesplanning and housing policies for the Localism Billfor the Localism Bill
Community RightsCommunity Rights to: to:• BuildBuild… rural first, and extend to urban
• BuyBuy… public first, maybe private assets
• PlanPlan… CRtBs X 2 & Neighbourhood Plans
• BidBid… for public sector functions
The The Minister’sMinister’s Story… Story…“We will become a “We will become a nation of homebuilders”nation of homebuilders”
• A rural housing revolutionrural housing revolution… Local Housing Trusts will give people the power to expand their villages up to 10% over 10 years.
- Accommodation for the old - Affordable homes for the young - Shops, schools, GP surgeries
• People at last really shapingshaping their their own communitiesown communities
• Power to bypassbypass planning committees
• But I don’t want the principles of Local Housing Trusts just to be a countryside thing. Our towns and towns and inner-cities must benefit tooinner-cities must benefit too.
““We’ve been through the highs and lows We’ve been through the highs and lows togethertogether”” Charlie Hibbert, CLT Member
St Minver, N Cornwall
Andy Lloyd Cumbria Rural Housing Trust www.crht.org.uk 8
• Developed by Cornwall Rural HA on behalf of CLT
• Managed self build
• On time & on budget Dec 08
Do it yourself: Charlie Hibbert helps put his own home together
• Part ownership tenure
• £85,000 build cost 3 bed + garage
• 100% mortgages
• Subsidy North Cornwall DC
““I am really impressed by the I am really impressed by the foresight foresight and tenacity of local peopleand tenacity of local people in driving this in driving this scheme forward. Seeing these houses scheme forward. Seeing these houses here, built to high standards by the here, built to high standards by the owners, with the owners, with the support of professionalssupport of professionals is most impressive.” is most impressive.” Grant Shapps, Shadow Minister 2008
The model for The model for Local Housing Trusts…Local Housing Trusts…CornwallCornwall CLT Programme CLT Programme 2007 2007 17 villages – 120+ homes17 villages – 120+ homes
Unique Unique partnerships…partnerships…enablingenabling district councils, their district councils, theircommunities, communities, Carnegie UK Trust,Carnegie UK Trust,and an RSLand an RSL
Blisland CLT Blisland CLT on Bodmin Mooron Bodmin MoorDefin
itely
Definite
ly not
not norm
al…
normal…
St. Minver CLT St. Minver CLT Average house price £650,000Average house price £650,000Market value £350,000Market value £350,000Cost including land £120,000Cost including land £120,000
12 houses 12 months12 houses 12 monthsOn time – On budgetOn time – On budget
Charlie’s Story…Charlie’s Story…Living Ricardo’sLiving Ricardo’sLaw of Economic RentLaw of Economic Rent
A A social movementsocial movement or more effective or more effective PPS 3 compliancePPS 3 compliancefor affordability in for affordability in perpetuity ???perpetuity ???
Definite
ly
Definite
ly not
not norm
al…
normal…
LandLand Development Study 1980-88 Development Study 1980-88From Prof. Peter Ambrose “Urban From Prof. Peter Ambrose “Urban Process and PowerProcess and Power” (Routledge 1994” (Routledge 1994)
M-Way Corridor AM-Way Corridor A v. v. M-Way Corridor BM-Way Corridor B
• Total No. Homes per 1000 people: Total No. Homes per 1000 people: 7.37.3 v. v. 6.16.1• Affordable Homes: Affordable Homes: 65% 65% v.v.15%15%• Choice of tenure/production: Choice of tenure/production: 55 v. v. 22
38% LA rent- 27%Coop- 43% Owned [50% self-build]38% LA rent- 27%Coop- 43% Owned [50% self-build] - 2% market rent. - 2% market rent. Variations reflect local political preferencesVariations reflect local political preferences85% Owned [0% self-build] 15% social rent85% Owned [0% self-build] 15% social rentTenure determined by central government policyTenure determined by central government policyAffordable dropped to 6% just after study periodAffordable dropped to 6% just after study period
• Professional/managerial in ‘social’:Professional/managerial in ‘social’: 49%49% v.v.<2%<2%
E4 Corridor Stockholm-UppsalaE4 Corridor Stockholm-Uppsala v. v. M4 Corridor BerkshireM4 Corridor Berkshire
• Building cost increase: Building cost increase: 24%24% v. v. 47%47%Extended period of capitalisation & innovationExtended period of capitalisation & innovationin construction efficiency and productivity in construction efficiency and productivity
• Land price increase: Land price increase: <5%<5% v. v. 436%436%
• Land as % of house price: Land as % of house price: +/-10%+/-10% v. v. 60%60%
• Market impacts on supply post-’88: Market impacts on supply post-’88: +/- 0%+/- 0% v. v. -60%-60%
• Land differential/hectare: Land differential/hectare: E4 E4 = = M4 M4 £301k/ha£301k/ha v. £1,222k/ha v. £1,222k/ha 4 4
Why Land Price isWhy Land Price is thethe issueissue
The The costscosts of complying with public of complying with publicpolicy and regulation ie. policy and regulation ie. thetheessential essential basicbasic requirements of requirements ofSpatial PlanningSpatial Planning, to create, to createsustainable places and sustainable places and communities:communities: Dwelling size and qualityDwelling size and quality Affordability of all housingAffordability of all housing Climate Change Climate Change
Adaptation/ResilienceAdaptation/Resilience Progress to Zero COProgress to Zero CO22
Hard and Soft InfrastructureHard and Soft Infrastructureshould be internalised and should be internalised and reflectedreflectedin land price and valuationin land price and valuation… …
but aren’t!but aren’t!
The The BusinessBusiness Case Case• CostsCosts of primary of primary
health care, mental health care, mental health, policing, health, policing, education education lowerlower in in areas of areas of better better qualityquality housing housing
• Factor difference Factor difference 5-7 times5-7 times
• Even if 50% wrongEven if 50% wrong= big number = big number
• Size difference 25%Size difference 25%
Recognised in RICS, BRE, CABE, IDEARecognised in RICS, BRE, CABE, IDEAHousing Corporation and EP guides and toolsHousing Corporation and EP guides and tools
A PrincipledHousing Policy
Sufficient support for…• 1. Plausibility: The price
of a modern home and sufficient space will be within the means of a family/household with an average income.
• 2. Neutrality: There should be similarity of pricing between equivalent homes in different forms of tenure
• 3. Social: The position of disadvantaged groups in the housing market will be strengthened.
• 4. Standards: Housing consumption for all should be supported upto a certain standard. Consumption beyond the standard not to be supported through public action and funds.
• 5. Parity: Differences of price between homes of different ages and condition will correspond with differences in their utility value.
• 6. Speculation: Explicit action is needed to counteract the inflationary transfer of wealth to property owners.
CourtesyCourtesy Prof. Peter Ambrose Prof. Peter Ambrose
AccessAccess to land to land• Deliver pre-election Deliver pre-election
Cabinet Office Cabinet Office requirement for requirement for small small sitessites [<50 homes] for [<50 homes] for coops and mutualscoops and mutuals in in HCA Public Land HCA Public Land InitiativeInitiative
• Extend to Extend to all public landall public land, , and include schemes and include schemes <50 homes <50 homes in larger in larger public sites, public sites, as CNT used as CNT used to doto do
• Extend to Extend to all landall land through site or locality through site or locality specific specific outcome drivenoutcome driven spatial planning policiesspatial planning policies
‘‘Garden grabbing’ SPAN HousingGarden grabbing’ SPAN HousingCorner Green, Blackheath 1956Corner Green, Blackheath 1956
A welcome route out of market failure?A welcome route out of market failure?
“Selfbuild? Over my dead body”
“Selfbuild? Over my dead body”
“We don’t think this is a
very good site for a
community land trust…”
“We don’t think this is a
very good site for a
community land trust…”
“I suppose you want
free land”“I suppose you want
free land”“Coops are always
trouble…people
argue all the time”
“Coops are always
trouble…people
argue all the time”
“You’ll just increase the price of land”
“You’ll just increase the price of land”
“Too small to make an
impact”“Too small to make an
impact”“We don’t need any more competition…”
“We don’t need any more competition…”
The ‘Coops and Mutuals’ The ‘Coops and Mutuals’ demand-side self-organising demand-side self-organising housinghousing sector bodysector body
• Commission for Cooperative and Commission for Cooperative and Mutual Mutual HousingHousing
• National National Community Land TrustCommunity Land Trust Board Board (CLG (CLG Community EmpowermentCommunity Empowerment Fund - Carnegie UK Trust and Fund - Carnegie UK Trust and National Housing Federation)National Housing Federation)
• Confederation of Confederation of CooperativeCooperative HousingHousing
• UK UK CohousingCohousing Network Network• National National Self BuildSelf Build Association Association• Development TrustsDevelopment Trusts Association Association• Cooperatives Cooperatives UKUK• Community GatewayCommunity Gateway Associations Associations
The Coops’ and Mutuals’The Coops’ and Mutuals’ self-organisingself-organising story story
The Actions:The Actions:• Feeding into CLG Feeding into CLG policy developmentpolicy development on Community Right- on Community Right-
to-Buy and Buildto-Buy and Build• Working with CLG Housing Construction Roundtable on Working with CLG Housing Construction Roundtable on
supply side measuressupply side measures, coordinated by RICS, coordinated by RICS• Co-producingCo-producing with the HCA on its community housing advice with the HCA on its community housing advice
initiativeinitiative• Developing proposals for Developing proposals for Communities Direct Communities Direct and aand a national national
action learning networkaction learning network
The Offer:The Offer:• Wellbeing outcomes that will be aWellbeing outcomes that will be a material consideration material consideration• Social organisationSocial organisation as a tool for the adoption of sustainable as a tool for the adoption of sustainable
life choices, particularly life choices, particularly mutual supportmutual support in old age in old age• Co-operative partners and a role with LSPs and HCA as Co-operative partners and a role with LSPs and HCA as local local
placeshapersplaceshapers
Communities Direct: Communities Direct: Unlocking economic & social Unlocking economic & social capitalcapital• Capital Funding …developing a market: development finance,
mortgage products, guarantees, revolving funds and grant, capacity to unlock private debt and equity finance, harmonisation of public and private financial instruments.
• Legal clarity ….model forms of organisation, leasehold and staircasing rules, model legal agreements, planning agreements, harmonisation with financial arrangements.
• Revenue Funding …seed corn resources for enabling, capacity building, supporting the growth of the sector, [historical precedent for the ‘flower pot men’ who grew the housing association movement after the 1974 recession], policy development and action learning; better value for money transaction costs
• Realism …about what can be done effectively on a voluntary basis and without organisational development of individual trusts and support bodies.
Look at what the Scots are doing…
The Royal Charter The Royal Charter 18811881
ObjectsObjectsTo maintain and promote theTo maintain and promote theusefulness of the professionusefulness of the profession
for the public advantagefor the public advantage in the in theUnited Kingdom and in anyUnited Kingdom and in any
other part of the worldother part of the world
……securing the optimal use of securing the optimal use of landland and its associated and its associated
resources resources to meet social andto meet social andeconomic needseconomic needs
The The RICS’RICS’ story storyAdviceAdvice• Spatial Planning & Delivery (2009)Spatial Planning & Delivery (2009)Valuation GuidanceValuation Guidance• Land for Land for Affordable HousingAffordable Housing (6/10) (6/10)• Council Assets Council Assets Less than bestLess than best (2/11) (2/11)• Development Land (2011?) Development Land (2011?) ResearchResearch• Land Value Taxation (12/10)Land Value Taxation (12/10)PolicyPolicy• Taylor Report on Rural Housing and Taylor Report on Rural Housing and
access to landaccess to land• Champion for sectorChampion for sector in CLG Housing in CLG Housing
Construction Roundtable and Construction Roundtable and Housing Sounding BoardHousing Sounding Board
• Thinkpieces Thinkpieces to CLG Ministers and to CLG Ministers and officers on community rights and officers on community rights and strategic planningstrategic planning
• CommissionCommission on Community Assets on Community Assets
The The Self-OrganisersSelf-Organisers……
Community Community LandLand Trusts, Trusts, CoCo-Housing, -Housing, Co-Co-ops, ops, selfself-build, -build, self-self-commissionedcommissioned
“Time for a citizens’ “Time for a citizens’ housinghousing revolution revolution…creating…creating democratic placesdemocratic places””
http://www.cabe.org.uk/publications/who-should-build-our-homes
More thanMore than… a … a ruralrural revolution revolution
CABE CABE Community HousingCommunity Housing Support Unit Support Unit
Community led housing design programme to 31/3/11:
• CABE and CLG Housing Supply, collaborating to support this increasingly important sector and what it can contribute to placeshaping.
• CABE is working with existing groups and networks to provide direct support to a small (4) number of schemes.
• CABE is focussing on client support, agreeing a vision, briefing, appointing consultants, evaluating proposals and procurement strategies.
• CABE is working with existing networks to share the learning and best practice emerging from these schemes
Sam McCauley and Dominic O’Neill - Housing [email protected] and [email protected]
The The Wise WordsWise Words of Sir Bob…of Sir Bob…• ““Put simply, we want to Put simply, we want to
make the make the programmes fit programmes fit the placethe place, rather than , rather than adapting places to fit adapting places to fit programmes.” programmes.”
• ““We’re seeking to instigate We’re seeking to instigate a holistic approach to a holistic approach to placemaking that placemaking that embeds embeds design, sustainability and design, sustainability and community engagementcommunity engagement in in the the process of setting process of setting investment prioritiesinvestment priorities and and ambitions.” ambitions.”
Rudi.net online interview 23/2/10 Juliana O’RourkeRudi.net online interview 23/2/10 Juliana O’Rourke
Slightly less Slightly less wisewise words from words from EricEric• Council Planning Departments are Council Planning Departments are “the last bastion of “the last bastion of
communismcommunism and and sheer bloody mindednesssheer bloody mindedness” ” • ““In a climate of low or non-existent Whitehall grants, In a climate of low or non-existent Whitehall grants,
it would be a it would be a very foolish council indeedvery foolish council indeed……to ignore the opportunity of generating to ignore the opportunity of generating cash from cash from house buildinghouse building” ”
• Local authorities would be Local authorities would be able to accumulate able to accumulate significant significant sumssums of money” of money” [25p per [25p per home plus Council Tax for home plus Council Tax for 6 years]…6 years]…
• "There has been "There has been no planningno planning for for 40 years40 years. We just have . We just have development control, not development control, not planning…predicated on planning…predicated on conflict conflict and the mighty and the mighty winning."winning."
A new ‘Big Society’? A true common wealth• Everyone talksEveryone talks of of
freedom, but there are freedom, but there are few that actfew that act for freedom, for freedom, and the and the actorsactors for for freedom freedom are oppressedare oppressed by the by the talkerstalkers and verbal and verbal professors of freedom: if professors of freedom: if thou wouldst what true thou wouldst what true freedom is, thou shalt see freedom is, thou shalt see it lies in the it lies in the community community of spiritof spirit and the and the community in the earlthly community in the earlthly treasury” treasury” Gerrard Winstanley, Gerrard Winstanley, Leader of the Diggers 1649. Leader of the Diggers 1649.
A new ‘Big Society’? Private action for social advance
• “(The) abundance of voluntary action outside one’s home – individually and in association with other citizens – for bettering one’s own life and that of one’s fellows are the distinguishing marks of a free society. They have been outstanding features of British life.”
• “Scratch a pessimist and you find often a defender of privilege.”
William Beveridge, Voluntary Action 1948
““Cities have theCities have thecapability capability of of providingprovidingsomething forsomething foreverybody, everybody, only only because because and and only only when,when,they are created they are created by by EVERYBODYEVERYBODY.”.”
‘‘The Death and Life of Great American Cities’The Death and Life of Great American Cities’ Jane Jacobs Jane Jacobs
FITSFITSfor for PurposePurpose and and ProcessProcess• FreedomFreedom for the for the
‘‘not normalnot normal’ people’ people
• Financially Financially IntelligentIntelligent
• InclusiveInclusive
• TransparentTransparent
• SimpleSimple
futureplannersfutureplannersOur principles of public interest practice:Our principles of public interest practice:
• Share a commitment to help create sustainable Share a commitment to help create sustainable and democratic places and democratic places
• Come from the traditional professional Come from the traditional professional institutions and noneinstitutions and none
• Believe in value driven work for sustainable Believe in value driven work for sustainable developmentdevelopment
• Promote ourselves to work with value driven Promote ourselves to work with value driven clients, andclients, and
• Share learning and innovation with othersShare learning and innovation with others