Sustainable Communities and the South Pennines

Professor Peter Roberts OBE

Chair of the Academy for Sustainable Communities

PENNINE PROSPECTS ANNUAL CONFERENCE

INTRODUCTION

• The sustainable communities concept (and its elaboration and application) represents the spatial manifestation of sustainable development – it is equally relevant to urban and rural areas.

• Many sectoral elaborations and applications of sustainable development ignore the spatial dimension and this causes fragmentation in terms of policy formulation and implementation.

• Such sectoral actions can weaken the effectiveness of sustainable development, especially with regard to the social, intra-generational equity and inter-generational equity dimensions.

• Equally, much of the debate assumes the ready translation of international agreements into local action – in reality there are multiple local politics of sustainable development and places are the manifestation of this variety

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Places

Inter-generational Equity

Social Dimension

Economic Dimension

Politics and Applications

Environmental Dimension

Intra-generational Equity

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND PLACE

• This is not a new idea – place as a product of the evolving contextual environment is a fundamental element of planning, ecology, geography and other subjects of study and application.

• But much of sustainable development is seen as ‘too difficult’ by politicians and others so a ‘selective menu’ approach has emerged in both the public and private sectors.

• The ‘selective menu’ approach ignores the need for comprehensive and integrated thinking and implementation – this can be seen as a cause of a myriad of social exclusion outcomes, including socio-spatial exclusion.

• Such weaknesses have been recognised and addressed in sustainable communities thinking.

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES - CONCEPT

• Much of the sustainable communities agenda will be familiar – it brings together

research and best practice from many sources and challenges sectoral thinking.

• Formal definition: sustainable communities are places where people want to live

and work, now and in the future.

• In practice, sustainable communities can be seen as the spatial manifestation of

the sustainable development agenda – making places for people in regenerating,

evolving and new communities.

• It is also important to recognise that the sustainable communities programme and

approach is not a fixed target….it is an agenda for change, and the implications are

essential considerations at all spatial levels, from the European Union to the

neighbourhood.

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Regenerating Places

Evolving Places

NewPlaces

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTH PENNINES

• South Pennines area reflects a wide range of places – urban and rural, large and

small, remote and accessible, with a range of functions such as agricultural,

tourist, dormitory and heritage.

• This variety is important because it illustrates the values of place, landscape and

culture which are the products of evolution.

• But the ‘successful’ places also demonstrate common characteristics which

reflect the wider sustainable communities elements.

• It is essential to retain the individual character of places, but also to learn from

experience elsewhere – places are ‘works in progress’.

WHAT IS A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY?

• Eight Key Component Elements:

• active, inclusive and safe – fair, tolerant, cohesive

• well run – effective and inclusive participation

• environmentally sensitive – caring for environment and resources

• well designed and built – quality environment

• well connected – good services, access and links

• thriving – flourishing and diverse economy and jobs

• well served – good public, private and voluntary services

• fair for everyone – just and equitable

WHAT IS A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY?

• And an extra essential component – placemaking, the process and skill of bringing the components together in a particular place and managing the development and implementation of a strategic corporate plan – delivery is essential.

• The principles can be used to guide the creation of new communities or retrofitted to existing places – regeneration and the normal process of evolution; tasks which involve many disciplines, professionals and other stakeholders.

• The principles, an amendment to EIB guidelines and a skills and knowledge programme were agreed at the EU Summit held in Bristol in December 2005 – the Bristol Accord, - and adopted at the Leipzig Summit in May 2007.

KEY COMPONENTS

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES – POLICY AND DELIVERY

• Sustainable Communities Plan(s) provide overall policy framework for development and delivery of sustainable communities.

• Other elements of policy support central objectives and are concerned with implementation – housing, planning, transport, local government.

• But there is no ‘one size fits all’ – the expected outcomes will differ spatially and over time.

• Policy recognises the important roles performed by professionals and community leaders, but also emphasises the need to involve and engage local people – skills issue.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE DIMENSION

• Skills dimension often overlooked in the past – the assumption was made that demand would drive the provision of suitably qualified professionals and others.

• But there have been too many alternative attractions and an historic lack of concern with stimulating supply, especially given the image problems experienced by much of the public sector, by many of the sustainable communities professions and by local government.

• This implies that it is essential to rebuild skills and knowledge capacity at all levels in order to ensure the future provision of sufficient competent professionals, community leaders and engaged citizens.

• It is also evident that much learning and practice is inefficient and that knowledge transfer must be promoted.

• This full agenda is now moving forward at national and EU levels – the Bristol Accord skills and knowledge programme was further developed at Leipzig in May 2007.

WHAT SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE ARE REQUIRED?

• Wide range of groups involved:

national, regional and local government members and officers private sector organisations and companies voluntary and community sector bodies professionals, trades people, others involved in delivery local residents of all ages

• Important also to engage with young people – they can help to shape their future and they have a major delivery role.

• Skills and knowledge are essential `tools’ for all groups – there is a need to share skills and experiences in order to avoid wasteful duplication.

• Skills cover technical, operational and organisational matters – planning and managing sustainable communities is a seamless progression on a continuing basis.

• Skills including generic and specialist elements

• Knowledge exchange should also cover the full range of activities – and this includes the outputs of academic research, which have to be made more accessible.

KEY GENERIC SKILLS INCLUDE:

visioning, strategy building and innovative thinking

partnership, team working, inclusion

analysis, decision making and evaluation

leadership and supporting delivery

programme and project design and management

process management and enabling change

stakeholder management and conflict resolution

communication

HOW CAN THE ACADEMY FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES HELP THE SOUTH PENNINES?

• ASC is the national strategic body concerned with ensuring that skills and knowledge are available to allow for establishment and maintenance of sustainable communities.

• Key programmes include:

Schools programmes – focus initially on 12-13 year olds and emphasis upon raising awareness and career opportunities – Making Places and other initiatives

Academic programmes – interdisciplinary approach to pre-degree, degree and postgraduate provision – common learning outcomes, teaching packs and modules / units of study

Professional programmes - emphasis on providing cross-professional CPD and refresher or transfer learning – common CPD programmes now operating

Research programmes – agreed with research council and others in order to support action research – first round of ASC / ESRC grants and other research projects.

Communities programmes – to provide skills and knowledge for local authorities and communities – this includes specific courses and mentoring

• All of these activities are highly relevant to the South Pennines – without sufficient skilled people, planning, implementation and maintenance will not occur.

FINAL THOUGHTS

• The ASC represents a resources for areas like the South Pennines and the settlements within it.

• Equally the learning experiences of South Pennines places can help to populate and exemplify sustainable communities policy, skills and knowledge.

• One important lesson is about the importance of a common vision and strategy – this is something that can mobilise the contributions of the South Pennines.

• ASC welcomes your involvement and looks forward to future collaboration.