A Workshop on how Design Review can support quality design outcomes in developing Neighbourhood Plans
Integreat Plus, The Planning Cooperative, Sheffield City Council and members of various community groups have met to discuss neighbourhood planning and how it can be implemented in Sheffield. The morning provided an opportunity for those actively involved with their local communities to meet to explore the implications and opportunities contained within the new Localism Act and how design review can support sustainable communities.
The meeting focused on what community groups actually wanted to achieve in their areas and what part the Local Authority and organisations such as Integreat Plus and The Planning Cooperative could play in meeting these objectives. The primary concern was how to engage with the opportunities, access resources and how best to use existing and gain new skills to shape future neighbourhood development.
Through the roundtable exchanges it was clear that Sheffield experience of neighbourhood renewal and practice already uses many elements of Neighbourhood Planning long before the introduction of the Localism Act. The key now is identifying how best to develop this further and to continue and sustaining interest amongst local residents and businesses. In a time of limited resources it is vital to be creative and shape new approaches for people to get involved and have a go at doing it for themselves.
Further meetings are planned which Integreat Plus will host forming a new neighbourhood planning forum for local organisations and groups to engage with those in the Local Authority and other partners to help them in creating better places and communities for themselves.
Look out for future workshops...
In the meantime feel free to download some of the presentations from the Workshop...
