Managing land for common good - Mark Walton

Managing land for the common good – a U.K. perspective

Gestione sostenibile dei beni comuni e rigenerazione territoriale - esperienze

nel Regno UnitoMark Walton

November / Novembre 2014

Agenda• UK context

• Shared Assets – about our approach– Social enterprise management– Commons governance– Creative engagement

• Examples & case studies– Woodland / Farming / Public open space

• Business models– Capital / Revenue

Introductions

Shared Assets

We help landowners and community enterprises work together to transform under managed land into productive community spaces.

We support community management of woodlands, waterways, green spaces and coastal areas.

UK context: political & financial

• Smaller government• Austerity• Selling of public assets• Localism• Community rights– Community Right to Bid– Community Right to Challenge– Neighbourhood Planning

UK context: demand

• Increasing demand for land• Groups and use of land often informal• A range:– Traditional “friends of groups”– Enterprising, values-driven groups – People wanting to meet their own needs – Unorthodox groups

• Alternative currencies• Cooperative and ‘commons’ approaches

Shared Assets approach

Social enterprise

management

Commons governance

Creative engagement

Social enterprise management

Commons-based governance

Commons based governance

Commons = resource + community + social rules

• Clearly defined boundaries • Rules adapted to local conditions• Those using the resource participate in decision-making• Effective, accountable • Sanctions for those who violate community rules• Cheap and easy to access conflict resolution

Creative engagement

Creative engagement

Opportunities

Employment

Training

Improved environment

Renewable resources

Community engagement

Social connections

Under managed liabilities Productive assets

Challenges

Contested spaces

Privatisation of public assets

Commercialisation of nature

Creating successful business models

Contact

mark@sharedassets.org.uk@shared_assetswww.sharedassets.org.uk

Mark Walton