DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY A framework for creating thriving new communities

Saffron Woodcraft with Tricia Hackett & Lucia Caistor-Arendar Foreword by Sir Peter Hall ABOUT FUTURE CONTENTS COMMUNITIES

Foreword by Sir Peter Hall 2

planning, design and development that Future Communities is a 1 Where are the people? 4 partnership programme we call social design, which needs to be integrated into policy and professional established by the Young practice across all the disciplines involved Foundation to explore in the creation of new communities – much like the way standards of environmental 2 The case for social sustainability 8 practical ways in which new sustainability have become widely adopted in housing settlements can recent years. succeed as communities where This paper sets out how to plan, design and 3 What does social sustainability mean? 14 people want to live and work. develop successful and socially sustainable new communities. The ideas and examples Our starting point is that although there is are drawn from a large scale review of widespread understanding of the physical and evidence about what makes communities 4 Designing in social sustainability 20 environmental challenges involved in creating flourish, with practical examples and new settlements, there is still much to be approaches from new settlements around the learnt from the UK, and internationally, about world. It was commissioned by the Homes what makes some communities succeed and and Communities Agency as part of Future 4.1 Amenities & social infrastructure 24 others fail. Lessons from communities that Communities. This work will be published have become high profile failures should tell on www.futurecommunities.net as an online 4.2 Social & cultural life 30 us that understanding the social dimensions toolkit during 2011. of new settlements is crucial for their long- term success and sustainability. The social 4.3 Voice & influence 36 and financial costs of failure are high. 4.4 Space to grow 42 In this paper we argue that building new communities that can flourish and become socially successful and sustainable is as important as designing places that are 5 Conclusion 48 physically, economically and environmentally sustainable. Social sustainability is an issue of public value as well as the wellbeing, quality of life and satisfaction of future References 51 residents. It demands a new approach to

2 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 1 F O R E W O R D B Y S I R P E T E R H A L L

When the Young Foundation concerned first with the creation of successful started on the work that has new communities – new suburbs, new towns – where previously no community led to this publication, no one existed. But the challenge is equally great, could have ever imagined just or greater, in the creation of successful new how topical it would become. communities within the existing urban fabric. Here, as the riots so starkly show, we have The August riots in London and other British failed. New estates have been injected cities, which manifested a collapse of social into older housing areas without adequate sustainability and social order on a scale thought as to how the two would integrate. never before witnessed in this country, have Housing policies, doubtless with the best of naturally provoked a huge wave of public intentions, have produced concentrations of debate, a form of national hand-wringing, on people with multiple forms of deprivation and what has happened and why. Our carefully- multiple resulting problems. At the same nurtured self-image as a nation, an image time, the surrounding communities have of good-natured tolerance which absorbed often themselves been transformed in the and eroded differences in class and race opposite direction, through gentrification. and culture, lies all but shattered. Nowhere The predictable result, in the worst cases, Sir Peter Hall is this more true in London, whose citizens has been the obverse of social cohesion: and civic leaders observed disturbances in a form of deep social resentment of one Bartlett Professor of Planning and other places – in northern cities, in Paris – community against the rest, and indeed the Regeneration, UCL and comfortably said “it could never happen wider world. This is why the lessons and the Senior Research Fellow, the Young here”. recommendations of this report are bound Foundation to have a salience that its authors can never But it could, and it has. So the topic of have imagined. this new study, which might have seemed peripheral and academic, has become central and urgent. Its authors were naturally Sir Peter Hall, August 2011.

2 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY FOREWORD 3 1 W H E R E A R E T H E PEOPLE ?

“ The architecture was award winning - but the lifestyle? There’s more going on at local cemeteries.” Spiegel Online, describing City Nord, Hamburg (2010)

Creating cities, towns 2020; while in Delhi four new satellite cities, and communities that are including Patparganj and Gurgaon, are being created to deal with overcrowding and to economically, environmentally cater for India’s growing middle classes. and socially sustainable, and which meet the challenges of The number of households in England is population growth, migration projected to increase by nearly 5.8 million between 2008 and 2033.3 There is already and climate change will be a backlog of more than half a million one of the biggest tasks of this households needing rented social housing century. who are currently homeless, or living in overcrowded or otherwise unsuitable housing. The development of new settlements is underway on an unprecedented scale. In Four new eco-towns have been proposed and Europe, 32 new towns are being created a number of strategic growth areas identified across 11 countries. In China, new cities are to increase housing supply to 240,000 homes springing up from Kunming to Shanghai in a year by 20164. Although the economic response to mass migration to urban areas. downturn and a change of government have Some estimates suggest 100 new cities, raised questions about the future for these each with a population of one million, will be new communities, there will be a continuing developed in China in the next three years.1 need to build more homes in the UK for those Pujiang New Town in Shanghai aims to house who cannot find adequate housing without 500,000 new residents in its 100 square some form of subsidy. kilometre One City, Nine Towns project, as part of the World Expo 2010 resettlement The UN forecasts that today’s urban programme. It has aspirations to be the population of 3.2 billion will rise to ‘ideal city’.2 Incheon Development Area nearly 5 billion by 2030, when three out outside Seoul will house 200,000 people by of five people will live in cities.5 Heygate Estate, South London, UK 4 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 1 WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE? 5 Asia alone has 16 megacities with a community groups and local transport, must need and aspire to is difficult to predict and system of Section 106 Planning Obligation population of more than 10 million, including be provided at an early stage in the life of equally hard to measure. Social sustainability Contributions, which are negotiated locally, Mumbai, Karachi, Dhaka and Jakarta. Such new communities. Much is known from both cannot be prescribed in the same way as and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), large scale population growth creates new and existing communities about how standards for environmental sustainability; of which only a portion is transferred directly particular challenges for cities trying to local identity and social networks influence it requires planners, local agencies and to the neighbourhood. At the time of writing, create sustainable communities and cope people’s feelings of attachment and belonging developers to consider and respond to local the future of both Section 106 and CIL are with overcrowding, pressure on housing and to places. There is growing evidence of the needs and circumstances. uncertain.8 transport systems, climate change and ageing effect of local social networks on community societies. UN surveys indicate that one billion wellbeing and resilience; and there is Recent work by The Oxford Institute for We argue that thinking about the long-term people, one-sixth of the world’s population, widespread understanding of how to foster Sustainable Development (OISD) recognises success and sustainability of social life in now live in shanty towns and, by 2030 over volunteering, neighbourliness, activism and that: new communities is as important as physical, two billion people in the world will be living local democratic engagement. economic and environmental sustainability. in slums, with the associated problems of “...at a practical level We need a better understanding of how poor sanitation, and access to healthcare and the tools, instruments and to create socially successful communities education. and how to use planning, development metrics to foster sustainable and stewardship functions to achieve this Pressure to provide decent and affordable urban development currently goal. Evidence about social success and private and social housing in communities available are biased toward sustainability needs to be integrated into that are economically, environmentally policy and professional practice across all and socially sustainable will present huge environmental and economic the disciplines involved in the creation of 6 challenges to governments. This is not a new sustainability.” new communities – architecture, planning, problem; there is much to be learnt from economic development, property investment, past experience of creating new towns and OISD calls for further research exploring how social policy, development, construction, communities. to construct and measure social sustainability, housing management – much like how along with work to integrate this thinking into standards of environmental sustainability There is widespread understanding of the socially responsible investment policies for have become widely acknowledged in recent physical and environmental challenges 1. Mumbai, India future developments.7 years. involved in creating new settlements. Much is known about how architecture shapes social In the UK at least, new communities are In this report we identify the local services behaviour and people’s sense of place; how However, much of this knowledge and often driven by private sector developers and support that are essential for creating high quality, well maintained public spaces practical experience is contained in who depend on selling homes to provide the flourishing and socially sustainable new influence perceptions of personal safety; the professional silos: architecture, planning, capital for schools, parks, community shops communities, like community workers, role local green spaces play in wellbeing; studies of the public realm, public policy and other facilities. Arguments between temporary community spaces and and how to design out crime. However, research, housing management, community developers and local government planners opportunities for residents to get involved experience shows that high aspirations for development and local government. about who should fund and provide amenities in shaping the place they live in. In spite of new settlements often end in disappointment Different ideals, language, professional are well rehearsed. In spite of contractual a growing body of evidence and practical and failure. This is partly because building approaches and commercial drivers make it agreements and planning levies to fund local experience in development and regeneration, flourishing, cohesive, inclusive communities is challenging to transfer research and good amenities, many new communities must wait there are still very few new communities genuinely challenging; but it is also because practice to the many public and private sector for a number of years before local authorities designed with social success in mind from the putting into practice what is known is difficult. stakeholders involved in the creation of new and developers meet commitments to provide beginning. We argue that planning for social communities. shops, schools and community spaces. success and sustainability can prevent or at There is clear evidence from European new Planning levies are part of the UK least mitigate, the likelihood of future social towns about what new communities need There are other challenges with putting this government’s Localism Bill agenda. problems, and in many cases, represents a in order to flourish. Social infrastructure thinking into practice. Every community is Changes have been proposed to the current fraction of the overall costs of development like schools, shops, neighbourhood parks, different so understanding what settlements and long term management.

6 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE? 7 2 THE CASE FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY “It is difficult to design a space that will not attract people. What is remarkable is how often this has been accomplished.” The Social Life of Public Spaces, William H. Whyte (1980)

Given the scale at which new with few, if any, shops, schools, buses or settlements are being planned community centres to support local social life. Sometimes this persists for several years and developed globally, there while the new community grows to a size that is a need to build both a can support local infrastructure.

practical understanding and Global housing need combined with economic professional commitment pressures, and the multiple difficulties to creating new cities and of brokering and managing relationships between public and private partners, will only communities that are socially, increase the pressure to provide homes rather as well as economically and than build communities. environmentally, sustainable. However, managing the long-term costs and consequences of decline and failure in new Past experience shows that the long-term settlements is an issue of public value and social needs of new communities are often political accountability. The financial costs overlooked in the drive to deliver housing of failure are high, but the social costs are on a large scale. In part this is due to the higher. financial models that fund the development of new communities, where government Without the right social infrastructure and public agencies lead on planning, but new communities can quickly spiral into investment is provided by private-sector decline. High profile failures include the developers. Commonly, private housing banlieues of Paris, Chicago’s Cabrini- is prioritised over local facilities in order Green, Broadwater Farm in north to provide revenue to fund community London and Park Hill in Sheffield – which infrastructure and affordable housing. Often is currently being redeveloped at a cost of new residents move into a building site £146 million.9 Some developments, like the Boy planting, Staffordshire, UK 8 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 2 THE CASE FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 9 residential centre, has been widely criticised opportunities to meet other residents, build for focusing on luxury flats to house financial local networks and shared social experiences. sector workers, rather than creating mixed Research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation communities with affordable housing for exploring the success and sustainability of low-income families living in the East End. mixed communities from the perspective The result is long term tensions between of residents identifies nine priorities for existing communities and new residents, and new communities. These are: good quality problems with anti-social behaviour and local housing; good schools; safe, clean and cohesion. friendly neighbourhoods; community outreach workers; pre-school child care; Before the current boom in creating new well integrated social housing; careful inter- communities, the English New Towns agency planning; neighbourhood staff; and was one of the world’s most sustained new- supervision of open spaces and parks.18 town development programmes; creating 32 settlements between 1946 and 1970 and Without these social supports new housing over three million people. Experience settlements struggle to become cohesive, from the English New Towns has shown that living communities with a sense of place, ignoring the social dimensions of new places belonging and identity. and the aspirations and opinions 2. Heygate Estate, London, UK of residents can lead to long term problems.

Pruitt-Igoe housing project in St. Louis, housing was seen as spacious and modern The review of evidence and USA and Fountainwell Place in Glasgow, – the architecture was blamed for isolating experience from new settlements have been demolished and replaced. Others residents, creating ‘dead’ spaces for anti- around the world highlights the are regenerated and turned around through social behaviour to flourish, being inflexible fragility of new communities and intensive effort and at high public cost, like and unable to adapt to modern liveability the length of time it takes for new 13 Castle Vale in Birmingham, and Robin requirements, and costly to maintain. places to become established: Hood Gardens and Holly Street10 in However, the decision to demolish the London. The Heygate Estate in London’s Heygate has also come under fire. Critics Some evidence suggests that Elephant and Castle, home to over 3,000 question the logic of destroying affordable it takes up to 15 years before 3. Futurecommunities.net people and knocked down in May 2011, cost housing stock at a time of rising housing local social networks develop approximately £8.5 million to demolish and need, and have highlighted issues with poor fully.15 11 £35 million to rehouse the residents. These management and neglect over two decades Evidence shows that communities without figures do not reflect the social cost to the that allowed the housing and public spaces to Research in China reports that social adequate local facilities, services and 12 14 community of two decades of living with decline. Arguably, the Heygate is symbolic of interaction in neighbourhoods is hindered community support suffer from a wide range crime, anti-social behaviour, poor housing changing attitudes and policy towards mass for long periods of time after urban of social problems. Lessons from English and a reputation for being one of the capital’s social housing, urban neighbourhoods and redevelopments.16 It identified the need new communities identify higher than worst estates. home ownership. for good quality social infrastructure and average rates of isolation and mental health local services, support for community problems, often caused by poor transport The Heygate – and many other large Other developments fail in their aspiration development, opportunities for residents connections that isolate people from friends, council housing estates from the 60s and to create mixed communities with a balance to get involved in local decision making, family and local jobs. Other problems are 70s – have attracted widespread criticism of private and social housing. London’s and shared social spaces and activities in inflexible housing stock that makes it hard for their ‘brutalist’ architecture. Despite its Docklands, which was redeveloped during new communities.17 Equally important are to attract and retain residents, and a lack initial popularity with new residents – the the 1980s and 90s as a new financial and the less visible types of support that create of opportunities for residents to influence

10 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY THE CASE FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 11 planning and development decisions, isolation and dissatisfied residents mean Qingshuihe in Inner Mongolia, are examples distance from Cairo, made it very difficult to resulting in inflexible and inadequate local new communities can quickly gain a new of China’s “ghost towns”, entirely new attract new residents.24 facilities – all of which have social, as well as community a poor reputation. communities designed to attract investment financial costs. and develop the local economy, which now In all these examples, professionals from The CABE National Housing Audit 2007 found stand empty and unfinished. These cities different perspectives believed they had a connection between social infrastructure, are located outside existing urban centres, found the answer to building at scale, services, and residents’ satisfaction with typically 20 to 30 kilometres away, and are creating housing and communities that would their neighbourhood. The study found that designed around key industries like mining, benefit their residents for years to come. although residents were overwhelmingly institutions like government offices, or Yet these mistakes are still being repeated satisfied with their homes, they were much universities that are relocated from other in spite of a growing body of research and less satisfied with their neighbourhoods, cities to attract new residents. practical experience that could be used to describing problems with a lack of public design new communities that work socially as open spaces, street layouts that felt Construction came to halt in Qingshuihe in well as economically and environmentally. unsafe for children to walk or cycle in, and 2007 after two years of development. Empty lack of character in the neighbourhoods. houses, offices and hotels now stand next to Dissatisfaction was greater among residents the old town, which is described as “in dire 4. Home security, Aylesbury Vale, UK who had lived in a development longer: 18 need of welfare reforms and infrastructure per cent of people resident for over a year improvement”.22 were dissatisfied, compared to 10 per cent Declining communities often have issues who were resident for less than a year.19 Chenggong is said to contain 100,000 with housing tenure and management; for new apartments, brand new local example, in the UK a growth in buy-to-let Research indicates that the identity government buildings, new university properties in many areas has made it difficult and reputation of a neighbourhood campuses and a new light rail system; for public agencies and housing providers are established in the early stages of but no residents. to manage challenging areas. There is little its development and history; and once to prevent those families that can relocate established are very resistant to change.20 Distance from existing urban centres is from doing so, leaving behind residents Community identity is often defined according thought to be a factor in the failure of the who have no choice but to stay. In the most to housing type, style or tenure, social class Chinese new towns to attract residents. An extreme situations, declining communities and status, historic male employment or article about Ordos and Qingshuihe describes become housing of last resort for the most inward migration patterns. Even though the problem: 5. Empty skyscrapers, Chenggong, Kunming, China vulnerable, with associated problems of anti- places evolve and change over time, early social behaviour, poor health and educational perceptions of a community can be extremely “expecting entire outcomes and crime. powerful and exert significant influence on communities to uproot Local authorities, government agencies how current and future residents feel about and housing associations need to work Communities need to attract and retain moving to a neighbourhood. Bradley Stoke, themselves from their social, with planners and developers to ensure residents from a range of backgrounds, a new community on the outskirts of Bristol historical and cultural context that planning for new communities is well ages and tenures if they are to succeed built in the 1980s, was renamed “Sadly from one moment to the next integrated into wider social, economic and as places where people want to live in the Broke” by local media to describe the number environmental policy and socially responsible long term. The initial motivation for moving of home owners in negative equity. 20 years is not only unrealistic, it’s investment strategies; or risk creating future 23 to a new community is often better quality on the “Sadly Broke” nickname is still in use.21 unsustainable.” communities that will fail. housing, more space at the same cost, and employment prospects. However, Already there is evidence that the current This was also the experience of Egypt’s new as experience and research from the UK generation of new cities and towns are desert cities programme. A lack of amenities has shown, early problems with social running into problems. Chenggong, in and social infrastructure, combined with infrastructure and resulting problems with Kunming, Southern China, and Ordos and

12 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY THE CASE FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 13 3 WHAT DOES SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY MEAN? “The great challenge of 21st century urban design is mastering ecological and social design.” Geoff Mulgan, NESTA

Social sustainability is largely In 2003 the UK government commissioned neglected in mainstream a review to clarify what the term community sustainability meant and to identify the sustainability debates. necessary skills to create sustainable Priority has been given to communities. The Egan Review, published in economic and environmental 2004, identified seven factors: governance; social and cultural; housing and the built sustainability in particular environment; economy; environmental; in the context of planning, services and transport, and connectivity.25 housing and communities, where policy and investment has focused on renewable resources, low carbon communities and encouraging pro-environmental behaviour in households. As a result, there are few practical resources that directly address the question of how to create places that are socially sustainable, as well as physical infrastructure that is environmentally sustainable. 6. Living Under One Sun, UK Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina 14 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 3 WHAT DOES SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY MEAN? 15 Social and cultural factors are identified as an sustainability indicators for measuring the essential element because of the contribution social dimensions of urban regeneration. OISD defines social sustainability as: they make to building vibrant and inclusive It describes these metrics as distinct from communities. Six areas are identified as traditional social indicators that provide a “Concerning how individuals, communities and societies important supports for social and cultural life: static analysis of statistical social data, with a live with each other and set out to achieve the objectives of a sense of community identity and belonging; key difference being analysis of the priorities tolerance, respect and engagement with identified and agreed by local stakeholders, development models which they have chosen for themselves, people from different cultures, background and the processes and solutions that are also taking into account the physical boundaries of their places and beliefs; friendly, co-operative and helpful implemented; rather than the statistical behaviour in neighbourhoods; opportunities outcomes. OISD’s indicators include: how and planet earth as a whole. At a more operational level, for cultural, leisure, community, sport and connected residents feel to each other, or social sustainability stems from actions in key thematic areas, other activities; low levels of crime and the sense of place in the community; the encompassing the social realm of individuals and societies, anti-social behaviour with visible, effective provision of and access to services; green and community-friendly policing; and design features; proximity to businesses which ranges from capacity building and skills development opportunities for all people to be socially and employment; cultural activities; and to environmental and spatial inequalities. In this sense, social included and have similar life opportunities. community involvement.27 sustainability blends traditional social policy areas and One of the challenges of making a case for Another obstacle, in the UK at least, is principles, such as equity and health, with emerging issues building socially sustainable communities the financial models used to fund new concerning participation, needs, social capital, the economy, is the difficulty of identifying suitable communities. As discussed earlier in this measures of success. OISD’s work identifies paper, many new housing and regeneration the environment, and more recently, with the notions of 26 the difficulties in measuring the ‘softer’ programmes are financed by private sector happiness, wellbeing and quality of life.” aspects of social sustainability, such as developers or public-private partnerships that wellbeing and a sense of community; rely on the sale of private and social housing and calls for government bodies to to provide infrastructure and amenities. develop new approaches to gathering This creates disincentives to invest in social data. OISD has developed a set of social amenities as work by the Joseph Rowntree

The Young Foundation argues that social sustainability should be seen as:

“A process for creating sustainable, successful places that promote wellbeing, by understanding what people need from the places they live and work. Social sustainability combines design of the physical realm with design of the social world – infrastructure to support social and cultural life, social amenities, systems for citizen engagement and space for people and places to evolve.”

7. Ecological reserve, Buenos Aires, Argentina

16 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY WHAT DOES SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY MEAN? 17 Foundation identifies: strategy, and the community “…One of the key determinants of high quality European participation, skills When regeneration is residential developments was the leading role played by “ assessment, training and property-led, contracting the local authority in setting the project on the right course adult basic education which and in making sure quality was maintained to the end... regimes impose their own 28 needs to go with it.” logic on investment and getting all the public stakeholders to work together seemed hiring, and commitment Innovative, socially responsible new business much easier…often the project had been started by one models are needed to incentivise developers to local benefit is lost. Key or more visionary leaders, but even more important, the to take a long-term interest and financial local authority had some financial capacity and the skills informants noted a common stake in new communities. Evidence suggests requirement to spend public that the most successful developments to manage and direct the project itself. The private sector in Europe generally involve a partnership was invariably involved but within a framework that was funds quickly (called ‘front- between commercial providers and local ending’) to achieve early government with the private sector taking a strongly controlled and directed towards the vision that had visual results to boost long-term stake in the development through been set...many of the builders and investors were relatively service charges or rental income.29 Research local.” investor confidence and from the Chartered Institute of Housing lever in private funds. This suggests that in the UK, the highest quality Beyond Eco-towns, applying the lessons from Europe, URBED, PRP Architects & Design for Homes (2008) and most successful schemes tend to be led can push the development by non-commercial owners and developers.30 process too fast to link it to the requisite employment

8. Outdoor Chess, Western China

18 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 19 4 DESIGNING IN SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY A framework for practical action

Drawing on a review of is needed that leaves room to reflect local international experience circumstances and the diverse nature of every community and its individual residents. the Young Foundation has developed a framework containing four elements that are essential to build new communities that will be successful and sustainable in the long term. These are: amenities and social infrastrucutre; social and cultural life; voice and influence; and space to grow.

While all four elements are needed in every new community (alongside good housing,

high quality public buildings and spaces, 9. Holyrood, Edinburgh, UK local economic opportunities and design that supports pro-environmental behaviour) social success and sustainability cannot be prescribed in the same way that the Integrating this framework into public policy standards for green building or environmental and professional practice would enable local sustainability can. A more flexible approach government, other public agencies, and The High Line, USANew City, York 20 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 4 DESIGNING IN SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 21 private sector investors in new communities In the following pages we explore the role to understand the social needs (and potential that each dimension plays in supporting new Building blocks for social problems) of future residents; allowing public communities to become socially sustainable; agencies to work with master planners, and the practical services, support and sustainability architects and developers to design in and interventions that can be “designed in” to finance social supports and services that are new communities. both enabling and empowering. Supports for social Infrastructure interaction schools, nursery & childcare; community development flexible, adaptable housing; workers; well maintained public low carbon infrastructure; & congregational spaces good transport & Neighbourhood networks communications connections babysitting circles; car clubs; lift share schemes

Amenities & social infrastructure Social & cultural

Safe places life eyes on the street; well-lit open spaces Local identity Collective services street parties; festivals; wireless networks; distinctive architecture; credit unions; Community assets local rules childcare co-ops shops; food production; gardens; buildings Community news & Community groups information community champions neighbourhood websites Community advocate for future residents Creative community engagement Space to grow

Voice & influence Community-driven stewardship Meanwhile space

Participatory Illustration of Design for Social Sustainability Framework, Young Foundation, 2011 Single issue decision-making Flexible infrastructure lobby groups Formal governance & flexible master structures planning

22 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY DESIGNING IN SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 23 4.1 AMENITIES & SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE New communities need services and support, not just buildings

“If we are to have any chance of creating vibrant new communities that offer residents quality of life and that open up new opportunities – communities that are well balanced, integrated, sustainable and well connected – then we have to think about building for the wider needs of the whole community, not just focus on building homes.”

A good place for children? Attracting and retaining families in inner urban mixed income communities, Emily Silverman, Ruth Lupton & Alex Fenton, Chartered Institute of Housing/Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2005)

Experience from around the world has shown This type of social infrastructure needs to be that new communities need local services in place early in the life of a new community like schools, shops and public transport, at – preferably before new residents move an early stage. Equally important though are in. Central to the English New Towns the less visible types of support that make concept was the idea of ‘walking distance people feel at home in an area and create communities’ where each neighbourhood opportunities to meet other residents; like would contain a school, shops, post office, community and cultural activities that create chemist, church, pub, community centre and a sense of shared history, and community sports facilities. A review of transferrable workers who can help residents to meet their lessons from the New Towns31 to provide neighbours and enable residents to set up practical lessons for England’s new growth their own local projects. areas concluded that, Barking Reach, London, UK 24 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AMENITIES & SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE 25 like policing or support for young people and “where these facilities no chemist, no doctor’s only be done by a matrix families – and how housing markets and the surgery and no competing of formal and informal were already in place when local economy perform. people began to arrive, the supermarket next door. They opportunities or supported There is a strong connection between find there is more to happy activities. There was a strong community came together and the quality of social infrastructure in new networks were formed more communities and the wellbeing of new living than a good job and a imperative for designing 32 residents. In the early stages of the English nice house with a view. facilitated activities to meet easily.” ” New Towns the quality of housing and the the needs of future citizens feeling of being a pioneer helped some The term “new town blues” was coined to This work finds that a lack of social residents to deal with these difficulties. describe the isolation that many people in and their households if they infrastructure to support new residents when However, early enthusiasm soon gave way the New Towns, particularly young mothers, they arrive slows the process of building were to take part in, and to frustration and in the longer term, had felt at being separated from friends and a community and can create long-term join together with, other more serious consequences for the health family and having few opportunities to meet problems for the wellbeing and opportunities and wellbeing of residents, as this quote other people living locally. This has also households to build a strong of new arrivals. suggests: been the experience of people living in other and cohesive community new communities around the UK. Problems with “new town blues” have emerged or indeed different “They have a strong 33 early in the development of Cambourne, communities.” feeling of being Cambridgeshire, a new settlement with involved in something planning consent for 3,300 dwellings on The report also argues for the involvement of new and exciting 1,000 acres. Approximately half of the new existing communities in the planning of new homes have been completed and a further housing settlements. and of ‘belonging’… 700 are planned. Although some They survive the mud community and commercial facilities have been provided, and lack of facilities “Although often marginalised in including a supermarket, a the administrative structure of because they feel range of smaller shops and a adventurous. They community centre, a rise in the new towns, the community 10. Bus stop, Staffordshire, UK mental health issues in the development staff played a key may have to put up community caused so much with travelling shops concern among GPs and other role in settling in newcomers and local professions that the Primary Support that at the outset can seem or shops in converted houses, providing a link between them and Care Trust (PCT) commissioned relatively insignificant can have far-reaching the development process as a whole, but when the enthusiasm work to investigate the problem. consequences, such as the availability of The Cambridgeshire PCT report and in establishing new communities. direct bus routes to connect people to local wears off, the time taken to found that, facilities and jobs; or micro-grants to support get a substantial shopping Having community development toddler groups, residents associations, sports centre built and operating staff in place at the outset ‘pays off teams, allotment clubs, and community ...planning for the “ handsomely’.” workers to bring together residents from or to provide places of hard infrastructure different backgrounds. These factors entertainment, causes New Towns: The British Experience, Hazel Evans (ed) (1972), as shape how inclusive, safe and tolerant new alone would never quoted in: Learning From The Past, Marina Scott, Neil Stott and Colin Wiles, Keystone Development Trust (2009) communities feel for residents and have a disgruntlement. They get build a community direct impact on local issues and services – tired of having no buses, and that it would

26 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AMENITIES & SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE 27 Work by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation either in the short-term while other facilities where this was not possible, identifies community outreach workers as are being developed; or long-term by co- it hindered the integration of important to residents in new communities. locating children’s centres, community health 34 The need for this type of social or community workers or youth workers in the buildings. communities.” development was recognised early in the history of the English New Towns. Many New Towns “...most mixing across social groups recruited teams of social liaison or Building Blocks: Amenities & community development officers, takes place between children. It based in local houses, to meet is these contacts – in nurseries, social infrastructure and greet new residents, provide playgroups, schools and in public local information, and involve residents in decision making as spaces – that provide opportunities Built environment Social Social practices new communities grew. for adults to meet and form & public space architectures & supports relationships. Children provide a Neighbourhood-based workers, whether they are volunteers, common ground and shared interest Early provision of schools, Hyper-local information Baby-sitting circles, parent part of a parish council or between people in different tenures.” nursery and childcare about community services and baby groups, car neighbourhood management and groups clubs, lift share schemes, Early provision of basic team can create opportunities and A good place for children? Attracting and retaining families in inner walking school bus, cycle urban mixed income communities, Emily Silverman, Ruth Lupton & community infrastructure Neighbourhood-based clubs, neighbouring spaces for people to interact with Alex Fenton, Chartered Institute of Housing/JRF (2005) – multi-function/flexible community liaison or networks neighbours through local events, spaces with co-located community development services: shop, community street parties, public meetings, staff (could be frontline Volunteer Community centre, health/wellness consultation and community staff co-located in Champions or provision, green space planning work. These approaches are proven temporary facilities) Neighbourhood Greeters to be effective at engaging residents and This is reinforced by experience in the English (temporary provision if permanent not initially helping to support strong social networks and New Towns: Collective neighbourhood Community gardening, feasible) working to break down barriers and reduce services combining composting, recycling professional and volunteer tensions between different social, faith or Good transport and “the provision of education skills, either designed in Social health eg communications ethnic groups. facilities was key in the or initiated by residents neighbourhood walking connections – including – eg community wireless groups, tai chi, running development of New public transport and Schools, nurseries and play areas have networks, community- clubs, cycle buddies broadband a particularly important role in new Towns and the creation of generated power, communities. As well as attracting families to communities, as so many of the Meanwhile spaces - neighbourhood childcare settle in new places, schools and nurseries temporary use of green co-ops, group purchasing newcomers were families with networks, credit unions create opportunities for people from different space, community young children, who had been buildings or housing to backgrounds to meet other parents and uprooted from their previous meet intermediate needs Micro-grants to kick start build relationships. Early provision of good (eg community house local initiatives quality schools and nurseries will encourage schools, friends and social instead of a community Community-owned or more affluent families to use community centre) networks. The Development managed assets eg services and not seek out school places in Corporations had to work hard community shops, food neighbouring areas, which can create long- Low carbon infrastructure that connects to health production term issues with the reputation of local to provide enough schools and wellbeing agendas (eg schools. Schools can also provide a hub for and teachers … In the cases encouraging walking and community services or community groups, cycling)

28 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AMENITIES & SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE 29 4.2 SOCIAL & CULTURAL LIFE New communities need shared spaces, shared rituals & support to build social networks

“Policy needs to acknowledge the importance of social networks and social cohesion, and of feelings of security and safety. In this study, people expressed attachment to the communities in which they lived and to their networks of families and friends, rather than to the physical places. The qualitative research found that social and family networks and their feelings of safety were what helped to retain people in deprived areas. Policies that aid the development of social networks or of feelings of security are likely to aid attachment.” The influence of neighbourhood deprivation on people’s attachment to places, Mark Livingston, Nick Bailey & Ade Kearns (2008)

Good relationships between residents, and a People live complex lives and relate both to range of local activities – formal and informal communities that are defined by where they – are key to thriving communities. However, live, and ‘communities of interest’, based on research has also found that just small interest, religion, or shared identity. No one changes in a community like closing a village can be forced to be ‘good neighbours’ or to shop or a community centre can have far become friends, but there is strong evidence reaching consequences. New communities are that the strength of local social networks particularly fragile. is related to a number of outcomes from health to crime. Social capital – the quality Man watering plants, Staffordshire, UK 30 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY SOCIAL & CULTURAL LIFE 31 to local news and information, informal from high crime and anti-social behaviour, childcare, neighbours swapping keys, to to poor quality public realm and resident recommendations about local jobs. Michael dissatisfaction. Woolcock, a senior Social Scientist at the World Bank and a lecturer in Public Policy at There are various practical ways of building Harvard University remarked: social capital into new communities. Community development workers or “the well connected are more neighbourhood-based staff have an important likely to be hired, housed, role to play in new communities by creating 11. Regents Canal, London, UK spaces for people to interact with neighbours healthy and happy.” 36 through local events, street parties, public meetings, consultation or community planning of relationships between residents that give • a place with a character of its own: Harvard Professor Robert Putnam has work. This type of role can cost as little as a community the capability to be supportive “New Earswick is distinguishable from written extensively about the atomisation of £10,000 a year to fund a part-time worker, and empowered and a rich cultural life – is its surroundings. The way the trees are American society, and the decline of group up to £50,000 or more to support a full important to help people put down roots, feel planted, the way the houses are built, give activities. Bowling Alone, published in 2000, neighbourhood management team. secure and ‘at home’ and develop a sense of it an individual character”; it is a “place argued that joining and participating in one belonging. you can belong to because it is different” ‘group’ cuts in half your odds of dying next year, with a The identity of a place is rooted in history, • people who share a common history: group being defined as an sort Community development support can in local celebrations, the stories people Young related how no less than six people of collective activity shared tell about the area, and in regular local told him how long ago ‘old Sam Davis with others. The positive help: events. These build up over time. When the chemist’ started the first bus service: effects of high social capital, • people settle into their new homes/environment new large-scale housing developments are “Their faces lighted up as they recalled which Putnam defined as built the sense of place cannot be defined the ‘yellow Peril’ as they called it... This ‘networks, norms and trust • build networks with other newcomers and with the by its shared history. New residents will shared tradition, the shared knowledge that enable participants to existing community not know others and, in the early stages, of old experiences, or old stories of act together more effectively there will be few social connections. Many experiences handed down, is one of the to pursue shared objectives’, • organise the rituals that begin to give the place a new developments are planned as ‘mixed intangible things which make people feel can include low crime rates, distinctive character and encourage belonging communities’, housing people from a range of they belong somewhere” less grime, better educational • broker differences between residents, and between circumstances and backgrounds. Often inner achievement, and better residents and service providers city neighbourhoods thrive on this sort of There is an important role for agencies in health.37 diversity – but it is something that has usually providing support, especially in the early • help to ‘champion’ the new community, enable residents evolved over many years and generations. years, to work with local people to generate The importance of building to ‘find their own voice’, build recognition and accelerate the social and cultural infrastructure that is social networks between positive identity Michael Young identified three essential essential to foster a sense of identity and groups – related to what is factors for a sense of community to belonging. Experience shows if this does not sometimes called ‘bridging A good place for children? Attracting and retaining families in inner urban mixed income communities, Emily Silverman, Ruth Lupton & Alex exist based on a study of New Earswick, happen, there is a danger that residents will social capital’ is particularly Fenton, Chartered Institute of Housing/JRF (2005) a new community developed in 1904 by feel alienated from their new homes, mental relevant where new housing 35 Joseph Rowntree. These are: health problems increase, people do not settlements bring together invest for the long term and move away when people from different Another approach that is proving to be highly • length of residence: “many people have they have the chance. backgrounds – age, ethnicity, religion, effective in the UK is time banking: local lived there long enough to put down lifestyle, culture, or social class.38 The exchanges where people can earn credits by roots. They have not had to change their Strong local networks give people many problems that occur in areas where there engaging in community and public service friends or their grocer and milkman every benefits: from a sense of belonging is low social capital are well documented: few years or so” and attachment to a neighbourhood, activities which they can then ‘bank’ and put

32 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY SOCIAL & CULTURAL LIFE 33 towards ‘buying’ other activities. One example informal ‘feedback circuits’ which can either feedback circuits, with the partial exception diverse but more affluent communities, the is Spice, a new community credit system that reinforce a sense of belonging or make of the first, is sending negative belonging feedback systems send positive messages began as an institute within the University of individuals feel excluded. messages to significant groups of citizens. about everything from the economic value of Wales, Newport in 2003. They are not recognized by the economy, newcomers to appreciation of their cultures.40 The list of ‘feedback circuits’ is intended to political power, or visible culture, and they Spice uses a people-to-agency timebanking be extensive, but not infinite. There are likely feel unsafe. By contrast, in many highly model, rather than the traditional people-to- to be other factors involved in determining people approach. A Spice timebank is hosted feelings of belonging. But it provides a in a community organisation, like a housing starting point for making sense of feelings association or community centre, and local of belonging of any particular individual or people earn time credits by taking part in group in a place, and explains why some Building Blocks: Social & community activities. The credits are then long-standing residents feel that they no traded for local services. This approach has longer belong, or conversely why in some cultural life been used in a community in Bridgend, Wales places newcomers feel at home. This work where the timebank has been hosted by suggests that in many traditional working- Built environment Social Social practices Blaengarw Workmen’s Club. Credits earned class communities the majority of these 10 & public space architectures & can be used in the supports community café, internet services, 10 key feedback circuits have been identified language and ICT People-friendly layouts Timebanking – promoting Neighbourhood-based by the Young Foundation:39 classes, live music eg car free areas, speed mutual exchange and groups eg Neighbourhood reductions, eyes on the development of social Watch, Residents/Tenants events and for bus 1. informal but strong ties of family and friendship street, well-lit areas capital though peer-to-peer Associations, Pledgebank travel. After an initial 2. weak ties of association that bind people together in churches, timebanking or people-to- two year pilot with 120 clubs and voluntary bodies where they find connection and Distinctive architecture/ agency timebanking Inter-generational, cross- landscaping to reinforce/ people, the system is common purpose cultural events and now embedded in all create sense of local Community projects activities eg Under One 3. messages from the economy, positive ones if it offers entry level aspects of village life identity to encourage inter- Sun, The Big Lunch jobs as well as opportunities for advancement, negative ones if it generational/inter-group and has revitalised the overtly discriminates, or simply has no place for a significant part Public and congregational mixing Local celebrations – eg former mining town. spaces eg open spaces, of the population festivals, street parties, parks, wide pavements, 4. messages from power and politics – a political system in which Neighbourhood Charter, fetes, family days, artists The Young Foundation benches Community Design key roles are filled by people who look like you and share your in residence has carried out Statement values will encourage feelings of belonging Third spaces (eg cafes, extensive research pubs, shops), playgrounds Local oral history projects 5. messages from culture in its widest sense that reinforce a sense Local rules and norms to understand and playspaces like East Midlands Oral of belonging or of alienation eg Home Zones, car free what makes people History 6. messages about physical safety – levels of violent crime and streets, neighbourhood feel they belong. Connections to agreements, local taxes or anti-social behaviour strongly influence feelings of belonging Local events – eg Central to this work neighbouring communities fundraising is the premise that 7. physical environment to avoid isolation eg litter picking, planting, pathways and shared fundraising individuals can 8. everyday public services – schools, hospitals, frontline Informal local currencies public spaces instinctively sense government offices eg Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS) Neighbouring activities acceptance from Flexible working spaces to 9. homes – where there are homes for people like you, your friends eg household network, groups such as encourage home-working, and family loanables family, colleagues, 10. law and its enforcement – if people help to shape and believe in local enterprise (eg spaces in a community centre or the neighbourhood, the law, they are more likely to obey it and society, through café)

34 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY SOCIAL & CULTURAL LIFE 35 4.3 VOICE & INFLUENCE

“Foremost, residents need to have a say in shaping their surroundings ...” 41

Involving local communities Foremost, is the need for residents to have in decisions that affect their a say in the shaping of their surroundings. Speller says: lives throughout the stages of new developments is vital “Often you will find with if public investment is to be developments like this that effective. If communities are they are completely finished not involved in designing and before people move in. So planning housing and wider they lack the chance to make facilities and infrastructure, their new environment their short-term cost savings may lead to long-term cost burdens own.”

if what is provided proves to Speller’s work identified the small things that be inappropriate, and under- can have a profound influence on how people used. respond to new environments. She describes how residents of Arkwright moved to their Gerda Speller spent six years studying the new homes but the lack of greenery in the relocation of Arkwright Town, a 100 year- neighbourhood meant there were no birds. old mining village in Derbyshire, England. All “People were absolutely distressed,” she says. the villagers were moved into new housing a short distance away in the mid 1990s due “It took about six months for to methane gas emissions from a nearby coal mine. Speller identified a number of shrubs and trees to provide conditions that must be met for people to enough cover for the birds form an attachment to a new neighbourhood. to frequent the new town. Public space near City Hall, London, UK 36 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY VOICE & INFLUENCE 37 state-led relocation processes that lack “That sort of emotional The planners of the town had “We are doing something participation and consideration of how the tried to think of everything connection usually only newly relocated communities might settle very ambitious here. Yes, we 45 comes with time. But they together and thrive. and it was fascinating are building buildings. But [residents] seem to have that this lack of external we are also producing social A growing body of research supports the identified with HafenCity assertion that community and neighbourhood stimulation turned out to be and cultural environments for 42 very quickly and they want to empowerment – giving residents the so very important.” the next century. After all, a opportunity to take part in collective activities support the philosophy. You city is not only a commercial that influence the areas they live in – Engaging with a community at the early cannot build a neighborly contribute to the wellbeing of residents and stages of development can be challenging, product, but also a public feeling ... but I think that communities. especially when future residents are yet to good... You can’t have a arrive. architecture can help A report from the Local Wellbeing Project totally structured place and certain processes and hinder – a partnership between Local Government However, in every development there will then just expect people to 44 Improvement and Development, the Young always be a community with a stake in others.” fit in. But nor will it work Foundation, the London School the new development – either as potential of Economics and three local residents, or as a neighbouring area or as if everything is totally open authorities (Manchester, South the wider local community – who can be to interpretation... The goal Tyneside and Hertfordshire) – consulted. For example, a large development argued that: wellbeing is higher will have a profound impact on nearby is to find a balance between in areas where residents can towns or villages, or the surrounding rural structures and freedoms and influence decisions affecting area, by displacing people, bringing in new opportunities.” their neighbourhood; wellbeing residents, and possibly increasing the strain is higher among people who on transport and services. Overlooking the HafenCity provides a good example of how have regular contact with their opinions of neighbouring communities can residents’ needs are likely to evolve as the neighbours, and that wellbeing is lead to local resistance, planning objections, community develops. In 2008, there were higher in areas where residents delays and hostility to new residents when 600 inhabitants including 40 children, a high have the confidence to exercise they move in. number given the lack of a kindergarten and 12. HafenCity, Hamburg, Germany control over local circumstances. playground at that early stage. A playground This study found three key The developers of HafenCity, a new was a high priority for parents. Developers benefits of empowerment residential and commercial quarter in Another example of the consequences of agreed to build a temporary one that could that directly contribute to wellbeing: that Hamburg, are taking an interesting approach social sustainability methodologies can be be moved once construction had advanced. it creates opportunities for residents to to engaging residents. When completed drawn from a case study in Mumbai, India. The parents also suggested an indoor influence decisions, facilitates contact HafenCity will be home to 12,000 residents Qualitative research carried out in 2009 recreation area for use during bad weather, between neighbours, and builds residents’ and between 45,000 and 50,000 workers on the sustainability and transformational 46 which HafenCity agreed to on the condition confidence to control local circumstances. commuting to the quarter during working impact of the relocation of pavement dwellers that residents took over responsibility for it. hours. Now, however, there are just 1,550 showed that a community-led relocation HafenCity financed half of it and the parents As communities become established and residents and 6,000 workers. HafenCity has process in which pavement dwellers were financed the other half.43 social networks develop, both formal and employed sociologist Marcus Menzl, to act re-housed through a highly participatory informal groups will form. Informal groups as an advocate and “go-between” for the process (i.e. having a say in the selection Early research in HafenCity has shown new will include local activists coming together, residents and developers. Interviewed in of the relocation site, the design of the residents to identify strongly with their new often to form campaign groups based SPIEGEL, Menzl says: built environment, and structures created surroundings. Marcus Menzl claims: on particular life experiences or interests for community governance) has been (especially toddlers groups and faith demonstrably more successful than traditional

38 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY VOICE & INFLUENCE 39 groups). There are numerous ways that communities and industrial businesses in an are known to be exploring the option of in north-east England, which plans to resident involvement can become formalised, area with a long history of deprivation and community investment. From farming, engage the local community and strengthen by developing community groups into disadvantage. Dealing with anxieties about football and pubs, to community retail stores its business model through a community community organisations, or by setting up incoming residents and the demands they and renewable energy, community investment share offer; and Cybermoor, a community new institutional governance arrangements, will place on local public services is a priority is proving to be an excellent way of financing organisation in rural Cumbria which provides like formally constituted residents for the local authority and Barking Riverside enterprises that serve a community purpose. wireless broadband access to the local associations, neighbourhood councils or Limited (BRL), a partnership between the Examples of community share projects community. Cybermoor is planning to raise an Tenant Management Organisations (TMOs). Homes and Communities Agency and a include Ashington Minors, an established additional £100,000 in capital to provide the Alternative approaches that are proving to private developer. In the early stages of the childcare nursery in a former mining town next generation with internet access.47 be effective in the UK include community development, the local authority and BRL will contracts (negotiated between local services represent local interests. As existing residents providers and residents) and neighbourhood are engaged and new residents arrive, management. All are essential to feed into management of the CDT will be transferred Building Blocks: Voice & thriving community governance over time. to the community, with the local authority Sustaining residents’ voice and influence in always maintaining a representation on the influence the long term means putting board. robust engagement and Built environment Social Social practices governance arrangements in & public space architectures & place that are sensitive to local supports needs, and thinking about how these will be funded into the future. Evidence from the Community advocate for Democratic governance Family days, critical future residents structures eg Parish or walking, neighbourhood Development Trusts Association Neighbourhood Council walkabouts, Complaints (now Locality) and other Community action planning Choirs community empowerment (eg Planning for Real, Formal governance models shows that a strong planning charettes structures eg Community Neighbourhood websites community organisation can be Development Trust, and community media very effective in influencing local neighbourhood eg fixmystreet.com, Identify physical spaces services, encouraging community management partnership hearfromyourcouncillor. 13. Biddulph Pride, Staffordshire, UK and places residents or board, Community com, Community Facebook initiatives and giving people a can influence eg design, Interest Company, Tenant group, Community voice in dealing with the whole develop or manage Management Organisations noticeboard and newsletter range of issues that impact on a community’s There is increasing interest in community everyday existence. investment in the UK, a different approach Urban Acupuncture Participatory governance to issuing shares that enables community – intensive public structures eg consultation on built neighbourhood forum, The Barking Riverside Regeneration agencies to expand. This could include selling environment proposals participatory budgeting, scheme in Barking and Dagenham, East shares to service users or more conventional London, is establishing a Community share offers. In the first half of the last Influencing public Campaigning activities eg Development Trust (CDT) to represent the decade there were, on average, four new service delivery at the single issue lobby groups, interests of existing and new residents in community share schemes each year. But in neighbourhood level community organising the regeneration area. Barking Riverside will the second half of the decade, the number Devolved or delegated be a large mixed community, housing up to of community share schemes started to neighbourhood budgets 26,000 people over the next two decades increase, culminating in a sevenfold increase and will include new schools, health and in 2009, when 28 enterprises launched Flexible stewardship and community facilities and commercial space. community share offers. In addition to community engagement/ The development borders well-established this, at least another 50 community groups empowerment strategies

40 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY VOICE & INFLUENCE 41 4.4 SPACE TO GROW

Flexible use of land and buildings is essential

If a new community is to be between residents and other stakeholders successful and sustainable, the that again needs time to develop. place – the physical space, the In order to allow new communities to housing stock and amenities, flourish, planning authorities should avoid a rigid ‘master-planning’ approach that seeks the social infrastructure – to create a blueprint for the future. Rather, needs to be able to adapt master plans need to allow for a degree over time to new needs and of ambiguity, uncertainty and openness to change, recognising that a new community new possibilities. As Saskia will develop best if it is allowed to be dynamic Sassen points out, “in that and to evolve in ways that the planners incompleteness…lies the cannot entirely predict. In designing places 48 for the future, planners should make sure possibility of making.” that communities and their residents have the space to grow, in particular, to develop As has been argued elsewhere in this paper, a distinctive character, to shape the place so new developments need to be well planned that it better meets local needs, and have to ensure that basic amenities and a robust scope to change as populations age and social infrastructure are in place from the shift and new patterns of work and social life time that residents begin to move into their emerge. new homes. However, many of the aspects of social life that make communities flourish Lessons from the English New Towns Review cannot be planned in advance – community identified that community master planning projects, governance arrangements and other worked most effectively when it provided local institutions need to evolve, building on for local choice. Successful aspects were local relationships, recognition of common identified as providing, interests, a sense of mutuality and trust Palais Royal, Paris, France 42 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY SPACE TO GROW 43 “infrastructure that was a vehicle for transferring land and buildings to will and community interest, strong business and… arts festivals. Paul communities to provide assets and capital to planning, and a social enterprise dimension to Finch, the chairman of the flexible, so that communities fund the development of local housing. the business model, were identified as crucial could develop it in a conditions for success. Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, way that suited them Residents in new communities can find in the future. Enabling themselves surrounded by semi-dereliction champions the idea of participation in and building sites for many years while temporary tree nurseries—a developments are completed. Intermediate source of employment and an planning of the later or ‘meanwhile use’ of land and buildings environmental benefit. phases.” can provide much-needed temporary space ” for community activities and interaction. Less successful aspects were being Community gardens and overly prescriptive in terms of social orchards, grow-bag allotments infrastructure, by providing facilities in empty plots of land, empty that weren’t easily adaptable. The buildings temporarily housing different local circumstances and social enterprises, community projects or drop-in clinics approaches of the English New Towns 14. Brixton Green, London, UK meant varying degrees of success for local public services, are in providing social infrastructure among the growing number of and support. The review suggests temporary projects developing in that social infrastructure and amenities in The majority of UK land trusts are small, the UK and US. the New Towns were often inappropriate, rural projects. However, a small number unimaginative or poorly designed, in spite of urban community land trusts are being Milton Keynes, one of the of the New Town Development Corporations developed, the most advanced being London English New Towns, provides a Citizens Community Land Trust, focusing temporary community house and recognising at an early stage that providing 15. New Housing at Coin Street, London, UK housing and employment alone could not on the London 2012 Olympic site, and £10,000 in funding in its new create ‘living communities’. Too great an Brixton Green.50 There are various short and housing developments. This emphasis was placed on design and physical long term benefits to asset ownership for approach is intended to provide issues in the planning process at the expense communities including: wealth creation being a space for new residents and community More innovatively he suggests allowing of community and social needs, which retained and recycled in the community and groups from the very early stages of a people to self build on the site, rather resulted in facilities that were inflexible and generating new projects and further benefits; new development, in order to help combat than waiting for developers, which would hard to adapt. a ‘multiplier effect’ bringing wider range of isolation and small amounts of funding to allow neighbourhood characters to develop benefits boosting business viability, restoring support community activities. London’s spontaneously. This would be done by encouraging developers to work in the same In practical terms this kind of flexibility land values and attracting new investment; Olympic Legacy Company is also entrepreneurial way as individuals and small should include creative use of buildings and promoting community cohesion through developing a similar approach as described in businesses. land, such as adaptable housing stock and bringing people from different backgrounds; this article, A Sporting Chance for London: if possible, opportunities for community building bridging and bonding social capital. Other more creative approaches include groups to manage or build their own homes. However, there are significant challenges “…the Olympic Legacy Research identifies the importance of flexible associated with establishing a community Space Makers Agency’s work in Brixton, and adaptable housing to provide space for land trust. A review of UK urban land Company has started London, which is a good example of how families to grow without having to move away trusts51 found many organisations struggled proposing temporary uses ‘meanwhile spaces’ can catalyse local from a community where they have become to cope in the early stages of development, action. Space Makers Agency worked for the empty sites such as with Lambeth Council in October 2009 and established.49 In the US and UK there is specifically with business planning and landlords London and Associated Properties growing interest in community land trusts as bureaucracy. Public sector support, political market gardens, allotments

44 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY SPACE TO GROW 45 to bring a number of empty properties €40,000 (approx. £34,500) when they live in into temporary and potentially longer- the complex. The sums are returned when term use on a three-month rent-free they leave the cooperative. All members basis. With financial support from pay a monthly fee to cover organised social the owners, and considerable unpaid activities. This fee includes the cost of work, the project has strengthened one employee, who organises the various with relationships between the activities. The scheme was short-listed for the owners, local authority, other 2010 World Habitat Awards. stakeholders and third sector group Friends of Brixton Market to discuss community involvement in the market’s future. Making the market a 16. EC1 Street Party, London, UK centre of cultural and social activity Building Blocks: Space to grow is strengthening the local economy through increased footfall, with an services, in addition to office accommodation initial wave of temporary projects occupying and conference facilities. The £5 million project has become a source of local pride, formerly empty space ranging from galleries Built environment Social Social practices to street theatre. Four previously empty and it has acted as a catalyst for further regeneration in the area including Hull’s first & public space architectures & units have been occupied by tenants since supports the start of the project, with a further rise community gymnasium, The Octagon Fitness in the number of applications for units and Centre. the projection that five of the tenants taking Flexible and adaptable Flexible stewardship Community gardening, a three-month rent-free trial will make the A major challenge for English new towns housing strategy – scope for community play spaces transition to becoming long-term tenants. and communities is an ageing population governance structures and actions to change over and the demands this creates for specialist Flexible and adaptable Meanwhile use of time to reflect evolving housing, health and social care services, and community bases and vacant spaces in the Flexible use of land and buildings presents population and needs great potential in new communities, support to overcome problems of isolation. buildings (eg temporary, neighbourhood multi-use buildings) where local relationships, needs and ideas Moreover elderly residents are often living on Social enterprise strategy are taking shape. Too often, the default fixed or low incomes, limiting their ability to Flexible Master-planning, response is to provide a community centre contribute to local services. One example of how authorities in Sweden are responding is eg enabling participation Community ownership – for a new settlement, without considering in planning of the later the SeniorForum,52 a cooperative housing Community Land Trusts, the needs of the residents or how a centre phases association set up in five municipalities, Development Trusts, asset will be managed over time. More creative transfer approaches to exploring with residents what which all elderly residents are entitled to join. they need and want, and also challenging Three main models have been developed: assumptions about what might be possible, Bonus (for larger communities of up to 200 can result in more exciting, relevant and members); Habitat (for small communities of sustainable alternatives. A good example between 50 and 100 members); and Focus, is The Octagon, the result of five years of which provides for those who need full-time community-led consultation and planning nursing care. The cost of construction is driven by the Goodwin Trust in Hull. In shared between Swedish Credit Agencies, 2006 it was commended in the Royal Institute who pay for the construction phase and 70 of Chartered Surveyors Community Benefit per cent of the final financing. Members Award. The centre provides primary health pay the other 25 per cent by depositing care, a 60-place nursery and council customer between €25,000 (approx. £21,500) and

46 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY SPACE TO GROW 47 5 CONCLUSION

“You can’t have a totally structured place and then just expect people to fit in...” Marcus Menzl, sociologist, HafenCity

Creating cities and approaches for different types of community. communities that work For example, there are many more studies of the failures and successes of social housing socially, economically and estates developed in the 1960s and 70s, than environmentally and can of the many new communities of private and be sustainable in the long mixed housing that have been developed term will be one of the main from the 1980s onwards. We need to know more about the local experience of people challenges of this century. living in new communities to understand how these places shape the aspirations and Much is already known about how opportunities of individuals. governments, planners, architects and developers can work together to achieve this. More work is also needed to identify and However, the challenge is to integrate this analyse the costs and benefits of applying thinking into professional practice as well as this framework for social sustainability; to public policy. understand the long-term financial costs to developers and public agencies of making To do this, a coherent body of evidence and this initial investment; the likely problems practical experience is needed to strengthen that will occur if investments are not the case for social sustainability in the design made in supporting social life to flourish in of new communities; as are innovative communities; and to find innovative and partners willing to try different approaches to sustainable ways to maintain this type of planning and funding new settlements. social infrastructure when it is in place, such as involving local social enterprises. Further research is needed to define what social sustainability means for new Evidence about the cost of developing and communities, along with work on how maintaining social infrastructure is difficult to measure the effectiveness of different to find. Milton Keynes, an English New Town West Village, USA New City, York 48 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 5 CONCLUSION 49 developed in 1967, appears to be one of the REFERENCES only places to have developed an investment model that clearly defines and costs the provision of social infrastructure. A cost of £700 per new dwelling is budgeted for providing social and community infrastructure – defined as: ‘activities, resources and 1. Arkinet (June 2010) Another Chinese town bites the dust, available at: http://www. arkinet.com/articles/another-new-city-in-china-bites-the-dust, accessed on 14 September support that strengthen the 2010 skills, abilities and confidence 2. 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52 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY REFERENCES 53 IMAGES ABOUT FUTURE COMMUNITIES

Cover image: Future Communities is a partnership between the Young Foundation, the Homes and Communities Agency, Local Government Improvement and Development, and a group of Outside the National Theatre, London, UK, by Damian Thompson local partners including Birmingham City Council, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, Aylesbury Vale District Council and Peabody Trust. International projects are also underway with the City of Malmö (Sweden) and in Adelaide (Australia). Section images: www.futurecommunities.net Section 1. Heygate Estate, London, UK, by Lucia Caistor-Arendar www.futurecommunitiesneveragain.wordpress.com Section 2. Boy planting, Staffordshire, UK, by Crispin Hughes July 2011 Section 3. Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina, by Lucia Caistor-Arendar Section 4. The High Line, New York City, USA, by Lucia Caistor-Arendar This paper was written by Saffron Woodcraft with Tricia Hackett and Lucia Caistor-Arendar. Section 4.1. Barking Reach, London, UK, by The Young Foundation We are grateful to Holly Brereton, Douglas Cochrane and Nicola Bacon for their significant Section Man watering plants, Staffordshire, UK, by Crispin Hughes 4.2. contributions to the content of the paper. Section 4.3. Public space near City Hall, London, UK, by The Young Foundation Section 4.4. Palais Royal, Paris, France, by Lucia Caistor-Arendar Design by: Lucia Caistor-Arendar Section 5. West Village, New York City, USA, by Lucia Caistor-Arendar

Other images: ABOUT THE YOUNG 1. Mumbai, India, by Tricia Hackett 2. Heygate Estate, by Lucia Caistor-Arendar 3. www.futurecommunities.net FOUNDATION 4. Home security, Aylesbury Vale, UK, by the Young Foundation 5. Empty skyscrapers, Chenggong, Kunming, China, by Google Earth 6. Living Under One Sun, UK, by Living Under One Sun 7. Ecological reserve, Buenos Aires, Argentina, by Lucia Caistor-Arendar The Young Foundation brings together insight, innovation and entrepreneurship to mett 8. Outdoor Chess, Western China, by Lucia Caistor-Arendar social needs. We have a 55 year track record of success with ventures such as the Open 9. Holyrood, Edinburgh, UK, by Lucia Caistor-Arendar University, Which?, the School for Social Entrereneurs and Healthline (the precursor to NHS Direct). We work across the UK and internationally - carrying out research, influencing policy, 10. Bus stop, Staffordshire, UK, by Crispin Hughes creating new organisations and supporting others to do the same, often with imaginative 11. Regents Canal, London, UK, by Lucia Caistor-Arendar uses of new technology. We now have over 60 staff, working on over 40 ventures at any one 12. HafenCity, Hamburg, Germany, by Boris Tylevich (FlickR) time, with staff in New York and Paris as well as London and Birmingham in the UK. 13. Biddulph Pride, Staffordshire, UK, by Crispin Hughes 14. Brixton Green, London, UK, by Fiona Freund, Brixton Green 15. New housing at Coin Street, London, UK, by the Young Foundation www.youngfoundation.org 16. EC1 street party, UK, by Lucia Caistor-Arendar

54 DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN FOR SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY 55 This paper sets out how to plan, design and develop successful and socially sustainable new communities. The ideas and examples are drawn from a large scale review of evidence about what makes communities flourish, with practical examples and approaches from new settlements around the world. It was commissioned by the Homes and Communities Agency as part of Future Communities.

“The recommendations of this report are bound to have a salience that its authors can never have imagined.” Sir Peter Hall