Community Collaboration Gains Momentum in the UK

The new report, "Re-thinking Neighbourhood Planning: From consultation to collaboration" [PDF], authored by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and ResPublica, an independent, non-partisan UK think tank, responds to the "dramatic power shift" initiated by the recent passage of the Localism Act, "which transfers power away from big government to local authorities and communities."

According to Vinnitskaya, "The paper...discusses the value of 'real community-led planning' in which professionals, developers, local authorities and communities create partnerships in preparation for planning and design work. The report supports community engagement and outreach, investing in the belief that partnerships and collaboration will bring trust and understanding to the relationship between planners and the communities that their policies affect."

The paper discusses the benefits of community collaboration and suggests methods by which to encourage such participation. 

"In order to emphasize the possibilities of the Localism Act, the paper suggest two ways in which Neighborhood Planning can be taken to the next level:'A Community Right to General Assets' and 'A Community Right to Invest in Real Estate', both of which suggest ways in which people within a community can become part of the investing and decision-making body."