6. We do research and use
ethnography
We advise organisations
across sectors
We work in the UK and
internationally
We use data
What we do
7. Explore the lessons from high-profile failures of new communities and
the experience of ‘new town blues’
Identify what makes new places become thriving communities
Show how these elements can be planned, designed and built alongside
the physical infrastructure
Present a model for assessing social sustainability
Identify what policy makers, developers and housing managers can do to
create communities that flourish.
Today’s workshop will
9. 200 years plus of large-scale planned new communities in the UK but still
relatively little known about what makes places thrive and how to support the
social life of places.
11. Physical boundaries to promote
geographical identity
Strong social relationships,
networks & bonds
Local myths & stories
Rituals and rhythms
Shared belief systems: garden
cities, new towns, eco-towns
Visible leadership.
An alternative view
12. “… where these facilities were already in place when people began to
arrive, the community came together and networks were formed
more easily” CLG New Towns Review
“ … most mixing across social groups takes place between children. It
is these contacts … that provide opportunities to meet and form
relationships.” CIH/JRF 2005
“ … planning for hard infrastructure alone would never build a
community … it would only be done by a matrix of formal and
informal opportunities or supported activities.” Cambridgeshire PCT (2007)
Reviewing the evidence
15. What is social sustainability?
“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.”
Source: Social Life (2012). Design for Social Sustainability: a framework for creating
thriving communities.
16. Social sustainability framework
Voice and Influence
Space to Grow
Social and Cultural Life
Amenities and
Social Infrastructure
Connection
to local and
regional
economy
Green
building,
environmental
innovation,
incentives
for pro-
environmental
behaviour
17. How to build the amenities and social
infrastructure that work?
How to create belonging and identity from
scratch?
How to boost neighbourliness and
belonging?
How will new residents relate to
neighbouring communities?
How to give a sense of control?
How to inspire people to take action to
shape their neighbourhoods?
What does this mean for new developments?
18. Why is this important?
What’s in it for me?
Discuss in groups
25. We have developed a social sustainability framework
for The Berkeley Group
26. Social sustainability indicators
3 dimensions, with
13 indicators.
made up of 35
questions in total,
measuring
dimensions of
social
sustainability.
29. We have completed a social sustainability toolkit for
Sutton Council
30. Piloted in Beddington, on the edge of London & Surrey
Bed
Voice&
i
n
uence
Amenities &
infrastructureSocial&
C
ulturalLifeAdaptability
&
Resilience
46. How do you react to these examples?
Are they replicable?
Do you know of any other examples that are
helpful?
Discussion
47. How can we design, plan & action social sustainability?
48. Planning policy
“At the heart of the National Planning Policy Framework is
a presumption in favour of sustainable
development, which should be seen as a golden thread
running through both plan-making and decision-taking.”
50. What role do different stakeholders have at different points on
the timeline?
PLANNING
DESIGN
CONSTRUCTION
OCCUPATION
LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP
5 years plus ….
51. How can different professional perspectives
contribute to social sustainability?
What is the role of funding, investment and
resources?
What is the role of ambition and creativity?
What is your role?
52. What have you learnt about creating
communities, not just homes?