How can we learn better?

Planning and delivering Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods

Dr Nicholas Falk

URBED

Where I come froma. Economist, strategic

planner and urbanist - Founder Director of URBED (Urban and Economic Development) in London 1976

b. Research and consultancy on sustainable development eg Cambridgeshire Quality Charter, Regeneration in European Cities, JRF

c. Learning networks eg Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods Network, TEN Group

d. Co author of Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood: Building the 21st Century Home (AP 2009)

The UK is in a crisis e.g. collapse of house-building

‘ …‘lack of house-building enabling infrastructure’ Local Growth White Paper

New models are needed

Challenges for community building

Mixed uses e.g. Brighton’s New England Quarter

Communal space e.g. Homes for Change, Hulme

Open space e.g. Shenley Park

Innovation is possible – but difficult in the UK

Brighton New England Quarter

Hulme

Overcoming community apathy/opposition

n.falk@urbed.co.uk

www.urbed.co.uk

The answer is to let the SUN shine in!

Changing lifestyles: Brighton New England Quarter

Changing design concepts: Design for homes, Hulme Manchester

Changing behaviour: The Cambridgeshire Quality Charter for Growth

•Community, places where people live out of choice and not necessity, creating healthy communities with a good quality of life.

•Connectivity, places that are well-connected enable easy access for all to jobs and services using sustainable modes.

•Climate, Places that anticipate climate change in ways that enhance the desirability of the development and minimise environmental impact.

•Character, Places with distinctive neighbourhoods and where people create ‘pride of place’

European experience offers the best route map

Eco-town exemplars

SUNN members

New Earswick, York

Orchard Park, Cambridge

Orchard Park masterplan

Walker Riverside, Newcastle

Walker Riverside masterplan

Ironstone and Lightmoor, Telford

Ironstone masterplan

Proximity to good jobs and services

Realistically priced land

Good infrastructure up front

Responsiveness to demand

Careful management

Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods depend on

Orchard Park, Cambridge

Potential for learning together

1.Sharing what does and does not work e.g. Lightmoor stewardship model

2.Raising standards e.g. Orchard Park

3.Supporting innovation e.g. JRT at Derwenthorpe

4. Influencing policy e.g. evidence on Localism Bill

Common issues for the network

1. Community: making mixed communities work

2. Connectivity: reducing car domination

3. Climate proofing: making technical innovation work

4. Character: creating distinctive places

5. Collaboration: enabling the public sector to lead

Engagement in planning and delivery

Social capital

Places to meet

Community

Orchard Park, Cambridge

Freiburg charter: ‘city of neighbourhoods with decentralised governance’

Community ownership of sports facilities, churches and natural spaces e.g. trees

Greater use of coops

Community engagement in Freiburg

Social balance

Neighbourhood design and management e.g. Baugruppen

Interim uses

With more meeting places

Kronsberg, Hanover Rieselfeld, Freiburg

Rieselfeld, Freiburg

Easy access? e.g. Cambridge guided busway

Walkable streets? e.g. Dickens Heath

Back yards? e.g. Ironstone

Connectivity

Orchard Park, Cambridge

Good public transit systems

Narrower residential streets and closes

Cycle friendly

Communally run green spaces

Basic infrastructure in Freiburg

Vauban masterplan

Variety of developers

Different styles

Quality open spaces

Character

Branding of neighbourhoods to appeal to different tastes

Almere

Vathorst

Vathorst

Bulk contracts for energy Higher levels of

insulation CHP and waste

reutilisation SUDS and ‘making water

your friend’

Climate proofing

Development is six times faster than the UK

Greenwich Millennium Village:

1100 homes 1999-2008

Hammarby, Stockholm:

6700 homes 1999-2008

Multiplicity of developers e.g. Amersfoort

Development frameworks for strategic sites

Joint Venture Companies

Community arts and sports associations

Greater fiscal autonomy

Municipal banks e.g. BMG

Housing coops

Working together

So how does local leadership work?

Freiburg