Following on historic new powers granted recently to cities across England, RIBA and ResPublica have published a new paper arguing for greater collaboration with local communities in neighborhood planning, writes Irina Vinnitskaya.
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."
FULL STORY: RIBA Rethinks Neighborhood Planning

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

How Project Connect Would Change ‘The Drag’
A popular — and sometimes deadly — Austin road will exchange car lanes for light rail.

Milwaukee Road to Get Complete Streets Upgrades
The city will reduce vehicle lanes and build a protected multi-use trail including bioswales and other water retention features on its ‘secret highway.’

Tackling Soil Contamination With Nature-Based Solutions
Los Angeles County residents and experts are turning to nature-based methods like bioremediation to address long-standing and fire-exacerbated soil contamination without resorting to costly and disruptive removal.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service