Presentation to Thinking Battersea: Treasury Holdings and JTP Cities

1. Thinking Battersea: Connecting Debate
Planning flourishing and sustainable communities
Saffron Woodcraft
Communities & Housing Practice Leader
March 2011
Slide 1 The Young Foundation 2010

2. About the Young Foundation
• Named after Lord Michael Young, called “the world’s
most successful entrepreneur of social enterprises”
and co-author of Labour’s 1945 election manifesto.
• Our core work is researching social needs and
developing practical and innovative solutions to
address them. We have a 55-year track record in
innovation in areas including health, education,
ageing, communities, and families.
• Responsible for starting scores of successful ventures
and organisations including the Open University,
NHS Direct and Which? Magazine.
Slide 2 The Young Foundation 2010

3. What does
community
mean in 2011?
Slide 3 The Young Foundation 2010

4. Slide 4 The Young Foundation 2010

6. Provocatively Passively negative Passively positive Passively supportive Interactive and Intrusive, ‘nosey’
negative (no acknowledgement, (non-committal (recognition, hesitant supportive (proactive interference –
(antisocial, maybe deliberate acknowledgement, inquiry, minimum (expression of interest, perceived or real –
disturbs norms avoidance, non-social, accentuates privacy, conversation, possible readiness to help and excessive inquisitiveness,
of privacy) may imply isolation) ‘keep meself-to- readiness to help in time support in time of lack of sensitivity,
meself’) of need, not clarified) need is made clear, disturbs norms of
balanced with privacy)
sensitivity to personal
privacy)
Most people are
here on the
spectrum Source: Kevin Harris, Local Level (2006)
A spectrum of neighbouring

7. What is a community: an alternative view
• Physical boundaries to promote
geographical identity
• Rules and laws specific to the area, e.g.
car free areas
• Local myths & stories
• Visible leadership
• Strong social relationships, networks &
bonds
• Rituals and rhythms
• Possibly shared belief system, e.g.
garden cities, new towns, eco-cities

8. Connecting
new and
existing
communities
Slide 8 The Young Foundation 2010

9. Common problems
1. Engaging existing residents
2. Emotional & social barriers
3. Creating neutral spaces
4. Engaging future residents
Slide 9 The Young Foundation 2010

10. Exploring how to build a cohesive
community with new and existing
residents of Barking Riverside, East
London
Slide 10 The Young Foundation 2010

11. Territory and mobility
Slide 11 The Young Foundation 2010

12. Feedback circuits Home,
neighbourhood &
physical
environment
Religion and
voluntary Power&politics
orgs
Family&friends Economy

13. Nurturing new
communities
Slide 13 The Young Foundation 2010

14. Social Social and
infrastructure cultural life
+ connection to local/
regional economy
+ green building,
environmental
innovation, incentives
for pro-environmental
Voice and behaviour
Space to grow
influence

15. 1. Social infrastructure
•Need for services and
support, not just buildings
•Early provision is crucial
•Lack of social infrastructure
affects community wellbeing
•Identity and reputation
Slide 15 The Young Foundation 2010

16. 2. Social and cultural life
• Community identity &
belonging
• Tolerance, respect,
engagement
• Pro-social behaviour
• Good design supporting
social life
Slide 16 The Young Foundation 2010

17. 3. Voice & influence
• Giving voice and influence
at the planning stage
• Shaping opportunities for
influence
• Maintaining structures
and initiatives for the long
term
Slide 17 The Young Foundation 2010

18. 4. Space to grow
• New communities evolve slowly
as social networks develop &
populations age & shift
• Master-planning needs to be
flexible and adaptable
• New communities need flexible
use of land & buildings
• Informal spaces & temporary
uses should be encouraged
• Local engagement &
governance structures also need
time to develop
Slide 18 The Young Foundation 2010

19. Slide 19 The Young Foundation 2010

20. For more information about Future Communities
contact:
saffron.woodcraft@youngfoundation.org
tricia.hackett@youngfoundation.org
www.neveragainfuturecommunities.wordpress.com
www.futurecommunities.net
www.youngfoundation.org
Slide 20 The Young Foundation 2010

21. About the Young Foundation
The Young Foundation brings together insight, innovation and
entrepreneurship to meet social needs.
We have a 55-year track record of success with ventures such as the
Open University, Which?, the School for Social Entrepreneurs and
Healthline (the precursor of NHS Direct).
We work across the UK and internationally – carrying out research,
influencing policy, creating new organisations and supporting others
to do the same, often with imaginative uses of new technology.
www.youngfoundation.org
Slide 21 The Young Foundation 2010