Power to Change’s Post

Over the past few months, we've been working with the Bennett Institute for Public Policy to understand how spaces owned by the private sector can function as social infrastructure - the spaces in our communities where people can mix and meet, and which help to create social connection. When you think about the social spaces in your community, you might not immediately think about the differences between those which are publicly, privately or community owned. But bringing private sector spaces into our understanding of social infrastructure can expand the availability of space for community - and the potential investment that's needed to keep these spaces going. This is particularly important at a time when communities are seeing the loss of valued local assets due to the financial challenges facing local authorities, and the heightened costs of running community spaces. Our research found by working with communities to shape their spaces, private asset owners and developers could ensure they are tailored to what local people want and need, and will therefore be better used and cared for in the long term. This has social benefits, of course, but can also increase dwell time and footfall to surrounding local businesses, creating economic impact too. The report contains some great live examples of where community businesses are already partnering with local councils and the private sector to shape, steward and own spaces for community - including through meanwhile use of vacant spaces, 50:50 community/private asset ownership, and community stewardship of assets in new towns that enables the private sector to exit (which may be of particular interest given Labour's housebuilding plans). We also make a series of policy recommendations to support a more strategic approach to managing and preserving social infrastructure.

British Land, Landsec and Berkeley Group have commissioned a report that highlights positive attitudes towards urban development they're encouraging the government to embrace urban development and densification - or risk missing its 1.5 million homes mission. The report reads: 'The results were clear: far from being anti-development, urban communities are overwhelmingly made up of ‘YIMBYs’ (‘yes in my back yard’). 60% of those polled in Cambridge, Camden, Manchester and Newham had strongly negative views of currently underdeveloped brownfield sites, viewing them as ugly, dirty and unsafe. 73% saw the underutilisation of these sites as a wasted opportunity that needs to be harnessed - for example, to deliver more affordable housing, public spaces and green places.'

🏘️ Labour’s New Towns: A Solution to the Housing Crisis? With the UK facing an ongoing housing shortage, Labour's proposal for a new wave of towns aims to tackle the issue head-on. Their plan is ambitious, envisioning communities of up to 25,000 homes each, with the goal of delivering 1.5 million homes during this parliament. But is this approach enough to solve the crisis? The challenges are significant. Acquiring land, especially in the Green Belt, navigating legal battles, and ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place are all major hurdles. Without careful planning, new towns could struggle to provide the essential services and amenities that communities need, as demonstrated by the delays in Northstowe. Labour's strategy must go beyond just new towns. A broader approach that includes smaller, ready-to-go developments and investment in existing urban areas will be crucial. The housing crisis is complex, and while new towns might help in the long term, immediate action is needed to address the current shortfall. For a deeper dive into this issue, check out our latest blog post here on our website by heading over to our News & Insight section: https://lnkd.in/eWi_RVXJ #HousingCrisis #LabourParty #UrbanPlanning #NewTowns #UKHousing #SustainableDevelopment

The UK government needs to embrace urban development and densification, or risk missing its 1.5 million homes mission. New research we've commissioned with Landsec and Berkeley Group Plc shows that urban communities are overwhelmingly 'YIMBY' (Yes in My Back Yard) when they are involved in the process of development, and its benefits are clearly understood. Developed by leading community engagement platform Commonplace, to give a true snapshot of those who live, rent and work in four major urban areas, our research finds that 73% of those polled believe underutilisation of brownfield sites is a wasted opportunity to deliver more affordable housing, public spaces and green places. We've set out five recommendations for government, recognising urban YIMBYs are a crucial cohort in unlocking the UK's ambitions for delivery and growth. https://lnkd.in/eCQ_zW3X #CommitAndCollaborate #UrbanDevelopment #Construction #Housing

Imagine a scenario where we’ve successfully achieved our housing goals within the planned timeframe. To make it even sweeter, we’ve also ensured that affordable/attainable housing options are available in an equitable manner. Fantastic! On that day, would we look around and realize that our citizens lack equitable access to essential services? Schools, parks, community services, public transit, hospitals - these vital infrastructures might still be out of reach for many within a reasonable distance. Would we panic and start creating new legislation, policies and plans, hosting webinars, talks, round tables, and panel discussions to address these gaps? Without these crucial services, can these new communities truly sustain a desirable quality of life? Or would the hard-fought housing options become undesirable places? If we neglect to maintain the necessary level of these critical services in our cities and neighbourhoods, we risk creating new communities with diminished quality of life. Ultimately our governments and taxpayers would bear the cost of a mentally, physically, and socially strained society. #housing #qulityoflife #wellbeing #wellbeingbydesign #ontariohousing

Affordable housing is a critical topic, resonating beyond political circles into our communities. As living expenses rise, finding sustainable housing becomes imperative. Recently, some developers I've consulted with have shifted projects from affordable to market rate due to perceived funding challenges - when, in fact, it was a bandwidth issue. The application processes for affordable housing support require dedicated resources. Let’s not allow paperwork to hinder progress. It’s crucial for us to work collectively to ensure the affordable housing we need. #teamwork #affordablehousing #communitydevelopment #realestatedevelopment

🔍 10 pieces of advice for US municipal planners when evaluating prospective affordable housing partners. In this newly published - and for a limited time 'Free Access' - practice review article in Planning Practice & Research Journal, Dustin Read, Donna Sedgwick and Keener Hughen provide 10 pieces of useful advice for municipal planners tasked with evaluating prospective affordable housing partners. Each suggestion is designed to yield information about private sector affordable housing providers’ capacity to balance financial and social interests before public-private partnerships are formed. Read the full article - Ten pieces of advice U.S. municipal planners should follow when evaluating prospective affordable housing partners - via the link ➡ https://lnkd.in/epHtiFDa #urbanplanning #cityplanning #affordablehousing #localgovernment #publicprivatepartnerships #usa

🏠 Navigating the Current Landscape of Social Housing in the UK 🏠 The social housing sector in the UK is at a pivotal moment. With increasing demand for affordable housing, rising living costs, and a pressing need for sustainable solutions, the industry faces both challenges and opportunities. As we look to the future, it’s clear that collaboration among local authorities, housing associations, and private developers is essential. Innovative approaches, such as green building practices and community engagement, can help us create not just houses, but thriving communities. Moreover, addressing issues of maintenance, quality, and accessibility remains crucial. Everyone deserves a safe and comfortable place to call home, and it's up to us in the industry to ensure that we meet this fundamental need. Let’s work together to reshape the future of social housing and make a lasting impact on our communities! 🌍💚 #SocialHousing #AffordableHousing #UKHousing #Sustainability #CommunityImpact

We hear a lot about the need for housing supply, but we will only get there if communities benefit from this increase in density and are brought on the journey. Great news to hear that the Victorian government is considering introducing housing targets - and providing funding to councils who achieve these. https://lnkd.in/gJbFbA7K The City of Vancouver has had a similar process in place for 20 years. But we are missing one key thing Vancouver does - running deliberative processes with residents so that can have a say in where the density is located. This is essential to gain community confidence and support for density. Communities need to see how they benefit from this increase in density through public realm upgrades and more community infrastructure - so the state government’s suggestion to incorporate a “liveability contribution” for developers is a good start. Great to see Urban Design Forum Australia’s advocacy cutting through - have a look at our positioning paper see how these changes could be tweaked to deliver even more for our cities  https://lnkd.in/gm_MHXTW

🏗 Are you an InfraYIMBY? 😤 One of the main gripes of new #housing #developments is the lack of adequate #infrastructure that is built into those schemes. 💰 Yet with public finances under strain, and its aversion to raising taxes, the Government can’t do it alone. Private-public-partnerships will be necessary to deliver all of the housing objectives #Labour have; be it #GreyBelt or #NewTown. 📈 ING Media analysis of online digital mentions has tracked how the #NewTowns agenda has been chiming with the public. In 2023 there was more negative sentiment from the public (16.5%) for the New Towns project, only 16.2% positive. But - the national mood has shifted, this year that positive figure has jumped to 31%, with the negative sentiment dropping to 10.3%. 📋 A YouGov survey also suggests that Britons generally support a large increase in new housing, even close to home. Over half (62%) supported large scale house building in the UK, 52% also supporting large scale building in their own area. 📚 My latest piece for The Green Chronicle | The Property Chronicle I dissect what new developments need; from #connectivity to #sustainability, and the value that local amenities bring to designing new #neighbourhoods. https://lnkd.in/egNicqSM #regeneration #communications #pr #housing