Sustainable developments will involve
people and communities in their planning, design and construction. This does
not mean a professional team assessing the site, working out a design and
presenting a proposal at a public meeting a week after the planning application
is made. Rather, developers as project promoters are expected to start by
considering what local communities’ needs are, who will be affected by the
project and how they can best be involved in decision making.
By seeking early involvement, developers
ensure that they understand local opportunities and that the final project
will be well-designed, desired and welcomed. Most representatives of the
community will be unaware of the range of sustainable techniques now available.
The developer and his/her professional team can share this knowledge or
facilitate technical aid.
- Are there processes in place to enable all sections of
the community to actively participate in decisions about the project?
- Is there active recognition of any differences between
sections of the community and methods of consensus building, negotiation and
resolution?
- Will special efforts be made to reach traditionally excluded groups? (eg the young,
disabled, women, minority ethnic communities)
- Has the information about sustainable construction
principles and options been produced and made accessible to everyone in the
community?
- Is there ‘community technical aid’ available to
community groups wishing to develop their own sustainable construction plans?
(this may include access to professional advice from planners, designers,
surveyors, engineers, architects/landscape architects)
- Plans for new developments will benefit from knowledge in
the community about any local creative/design/construction skills, sources of
local building materials and any local health/environmental/safety issues
- Community input will aid local distinctiveness and
promote a positive sense of ownership of any new development
- Initial community involvement can be developed for
future maintenance/management plans where appropriate
- Assisting the recruitment of local people as part of the
labour force of the development project
- Please share your knowledge and information on case
studies in the region through the Future Foundations website
(www.futurefoundations.co.uk)
- South West Forum - c/o Community Council of Devon,
County Hall, Exeter, EX2 4QB Tel: 01392 382822
- A Guide to Sustainable Construction for Village Halls
and Community Buildings, by Steve Charter, Somerset Trust for Sustainable
Development. A comprehensive guide suitable for professionals and the general
public. £10
- Building the 21st Century Home: The Sustainable Urban
Neighbourhood, David Rudlin & Nicholas Falk, Architectural Press, ISBN 0
750625287, price £19.99
- You Build - the magazine of the Walter Segal Self Build Trust
- The Community Development Foundation (CDF), 3rd Floor,
Goodbard House, Infirmary Street, Leeds, LS1 2JS (www.cdf.org.uk)
- The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit at www.detr.gov.uk
- Rural Community Councils -
- AVON: Community Action, Tel: 01275 393837
- CORNWALL: Rural Community Council, Tel: 01872 273952
- DEVON: Community Council, Tel: 01392 382533
- DORSET: Community Action, Tel: 01305 250951
- GLOUCESTERSHIRE: Rural Community Council, Tel: 01452 528491
- SOMERSET: Community Council for Somerset, Tel: 01823 331222
- WILTSHIRE: Community First, Tel: 01380 722475
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