towards a sustainable and just city region? civil society and the rise of community- based...
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Towards a Sustainable and Just City Region?
Civil Society and the rise of community-based approaches to planning and
development in London
TU Berlin 29 November 2013
Professor Nick [email protected]
Civil Society
• Multiple meanings• Different formations – national charities, area-
based, issue-based ‘third sector’ organisations• Uneven geographical distribution• Simple legal and organisational structures• Long history of charitable activities in UK• Response to shrinking of the state and public
investment in communities and places• No coherent strategy – e.g. Big Society,
Localism, forums
Development Trusts are…..
• Engaged in economic, social and environmental regeneration of a defined are or community of interest;
• Independent, not-for-profit, aiming for sustainability;• Community based, owned and managed;• Actively involved in partnerships with stakeholders;• (usually) a registered company limited by guarantee;• (usually) a registered charity.
Comparing two trusts in London
Coin Street Westway
Land ownership Freehold Long lease from council and DoT
Year founded 1984 1971
Legal status Company limited by guaranteecharity
Company limited by guaranteeCharity
Assets £26m in 2007 £28.5m in 2012
Area 5.3 ha 9 ha
Reason for expansion Sale at low valuation by GLC Lease at low valuation
Organisation 12 trustees 14 trustees + chair
Main activities Housing (220 affordable)Commercial/retailOpen space
80% community facilities15% commercial5% vacant
Coin Street Community Builders
• Assets of £26m in 2007;
• 5.3 hectare site bought in 1984;
• 220 homes built;
• Families & children’s centre;
• Neighbourhood centre with nursery, meeting rooms, office space for charities;
• Public open space;
• Shops and offices;
• Work and arts spaces;
• Proposed swimming pool
www.coinstreet.org
Sources of Finance
• Section 106 and asset transfer (land and buildings);• Loans from banks;• Sales and services provided;• Big Lottery, Heritage Lottery Fund;• EU funding (in certain areas);• Various funds from central & local government;• LAs can sell land/buildings below market value if
worth less than £2m.
Community Development Trusts
• There are 466 development trusts across the UK • Development trusts work in communities that make up a quarter
of the UK population • They have a combined income of £297m, of which £177m is
earned income • £643m of assets are in community ownership • 5040 staff and 23,000 volunteers work with development trusts • Development trusts provide support to almost 9,000 community
groups and over 8,000 small businesses • Development trusts engage in a wide range of community
focussed activities and services.
Assets owned by Locality members in England
Source: Locality membership survey 2012
Total assets: £643m
Assets of Community Value• Under Localism Act 2011 groups can apply to local
council to register an Asset of Community Value; • When asset is for sale, group has 6 months to raise
the market value before it can be sold on open market;
• Often applied to pubs but also redundant schools, libraries etc.
• Similar powers operating in Scotland
First Asset of Community Value in London?
The Ivy House, Nunhead, bought by Ivy House Community Pub Ltd in March 2013 after declared an asset of community value by Southwark Council and residents raising £810,000
Conclusions
• Small scale, uneven distribution• Affected by recession and increasing property values• Operate at high risk end of market• Driven by a commercial imperative to make a surplus• Depend on volunteers for management and delivery• Important community development role• Depend on buying in expertise (valuation, architects
etc)• Asset transfer very slow – owners want to maximise
income• Voluntaristic principle – promoting ‘co-production’
Sources• Hart, L. To have and to hold: The DTA guide to asset
development for community and social enterprise. DTA, 2010.
• Bailey, N. The role, organisation and contribution of community enterprise to urban regeneration in the UK. Progress in Planning, 77(1), 2012.
www.locality.org.uk
www.westway.org
www.coinstreet.org