Five places across England have been announced today (Wednesday 13 March 2019) as participants of a new programme to recognise and support high quality placemaking.
The Future Place programme is an initiative run by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), Local Government Association (LGA) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
The five ‘Future Places’ selected as exemplars based on their overarching placemaking visions and innovative approaches, are:
- Bradford (City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council)
- Greater Exeter (Exeter City Council, East Devon District Council, Mid Devon District Council and Teignbridge District Council – supported by Devon County Council)
- Great Yarmouth (Great Yarmouth Borough Council)
- Gateshead (Gateshead Council)
- North Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire County Council, Corby Borough Council, East Northamptonshire Council, Kettering Borough Council and Borough Council of Wellingborough)
All five Future Places are determined to deliver meaningful change which will enhance people’s lives, improve community wellbeing and create sustainable environments. While each place is very different, they all work in collaboration with public, private or voluntary sector partners to develop and advance innovative placemaking strategies.
The five selected places will now take part in a programme to develop visions for their areas, with training and expert advice from each of the Future Places project partners.
We are delighted to announce that Homes England will join the RIBA, CIH, LGA and RTPI as a partner and will offer all Future Places their expertise and professional skills. The selected local authorities will benefit from a single point of contact at Homes England to support their vision and receive access to the agency’s frameworks to help reach the specialist services they need to create places where people really want to live.
Homes England Deputy Chief Executive, Tom Walker, said:
“The Future Place programme provides an excellent opportunity to work with exemplar councils to understand not only the needs of each place, but how best to break down the barriers and get more homes built where they are needed most. I welcome this collaboration and look forward to the agency getting involved.”
RIBA President, Ben Derbyshire, offered his congratulations:
“Local authorities play a vital role in creating happy, healthy and sustainable communities, and I am proud to be part of this initiative which encourages engagement with communities and collaborative approaches to planning and designing the best possible environments. The commitment these authorities have shown, despite financial and political barriers, is highly commendable. I look forward to working with all five over the next phase of the programme, learning lessons as they develop their visions, and celebrating their success.”
Chartered Institute of Housing President, Jim Strang, said:
“Local authorities play an absolutely vital role in helping to create thriving communities that are great places to live and work, and crucially in providing genuinely affordable housing. Congratulations to all of our Future Places – we look forward to supporting them and following their progress with interest.”
LGA housing spokesman, Councillor Martin Tett, said:
“Councils play a critical role in setting the vision and shaping the delivery of high-quality places where people want to live, work and enjoy their time. The five selected Future Places are demonstrating commitment through local leadership and collaboration to deliver meaningful change for their places. We are proud to be a partner of the programme which will showcase and provide expert advice to support high-quality place-making.”
Ian Tant, President of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said:
“It is important that we celebrate planners’ creativity and vision in place-making, as well as the innovative and practical ways that many councils are using to foster the strategic collaborations essential to creating successful places. The five chosen Future Places show that strong, experienced local planning leadership makes all the difference to delivering places that thrive and work for people. That’s why we’re supporting this programme to further boost leadership development.”
CITATIONS
Bradford
(City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council)
Born out of the industrial revolution, Bradford has a rich cultural heritage and a city centre that’s ripe for regeneration. It’s home to the youngest population in England, and unlike other cities, Bradford has space for redevelopment and opportunities to repurpose buildings. The City of Bradford District Council has a strong vision to transform the city centre by creating new homes and economic opportunities to attract and retain young and diverse communities. The Council is taking a ‘bottom up’ approach to ensure that people remain at the heart of the transformation. The Future Place programme offers an opportunity to kick start the process of updating the 2015 ‘City Plan’ and 2017 ‘Area Action Plan’ (which in turn updated the original 2003 Masterplan by Will Alsop), to reflect the changes and challenges Bradford faces, both now and in the future. Next steps include producing a masterplan for a new ‘City Village’ and a ‘Housing Design Guide’ document which will set out what is expected from new developments. The Council is committed to cross-sector collaboration to maximise placemaking opportunities and secure long lasting, meaningful change.
Greater Exeter
(Exeter City Council, East Devon District Council, Mid Devon District Council and Teignbridge District Council)
Exeter is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK. It sits within a network of thriving rural villages and coastal towns that together represent a population of around 450,000 people. By 2040 Greater Exeter wants to be recognised as a global leader in sustainable living and one of the most active, healthy and accessible cities in England. A group of five local authorities was formed to create the ‘Greater Exeter Strategic Plan’ – a joined-up vision for the area. Joint initiatives include making public transport quicker and more convenient; promoting active travel; freeing up land used for driving and parking for social uses; and building more green spaces with arts and cultural facilities to encourage healthier lifestyles. In the next twelve months the Authorities intend to publish their draft ‘Strategic Plan’ for the new Exeter sub-region and launch a transformational housing plan for the City to deliver 12,000 new homes between 2020-2040. Working closely with their Community Interest Company, Exeter City Futures, Greater Exeter will draw on the Future Place Programme to ensure placemaking is at the heart of their innovative approach to challenges faced by their vast and varied communities.
Great Yarmouth
(Great Yarmouth Borough Council)
As England’s established offshore energy sector capital, Great Yarmouth is at the forefront of £39bn of energy investment over the next 20 years, including in large-scale offshore wind. With a flagship tourism economy worth more than £625m each year, Great Yarmouth is also Norfolk’s top seaside resort, boasting a rich cultural heritage including historic buildings and diverse events. Like many coastal areas, however, the area also faces several challenges, including pockets of social deprivation, low wages, decreased land values, poor health and education. In order to address these complex challenges for communities, while maximising the opportunities for investment, the Council takes a place-based approach to planning and delivery, working closely with partners across public and private sectors to advance a range of exciting work to support regeneration and inclusive economic growth. Plans are in place to attract and retain further visitors and skilled workers, including regenerating the historic town centre and better aligning the tourism, culture and heritage offers. The Council is currently driving forward an ambitious Town Centre Masterplan and major regeneration projects along the seafront, in addition to crafting a Culture and Tourism Strategy to help broaden and enhance the tourism offer. The Council is also lobbying for a bespoke housing deal for Great Yarmouth. The Future Place programme will help Great Yarmouth to help optimise, amplify and advance these initiatives.
Gateshead
(Gateshead Council)
Gateshead Council has huge ambitions to accelerate the transformation of their town, which is home to approximately 200,000 people. The Council is committed to creating a lively, connected town centre that promotes health, wellbeing, social interaction and a better quality of life. ‘Fit for a City’ the regeneration strategy adopted by the Council in 2008 now requires reinvigoration, and the ‘Core Strategy and Urban Core Area Action Plan’ (adopted jointly in 2015 with Newcastle City Council and setting the planning framework for the town centre) is ready to be advanced. Plans for the next decade include a new £250m arena and conference venue, 1,000 new homes with a new ‘exemplar’ neighbourhood, and a high street revamp. A new public transport interchange and rail station have also been identified as priority projects. The Council aims to establish a ‘Future Gateshead Leadership Board’ comprised of local stakeholders, and the Future Place Programme will help to support Gateshead’s collaborative approach. This will play a central role in reinvigorating the town and creating a well-connected destination where people want to live and work.
North Northamptonshire
(Northamptonshire County Council, Corby Borough Council, East Northamptonshire Council, Kettering Borough Council and Borough Council of Wellingborough)
North Northamptonshire is comprised of five partner local authorities who are currently moving towards the formation of a unitary authority. It has had a Joint Planning Committee and Joint Planning Unit (JPU) in place since 2004. Their ambitious growth strategy to build 40,000 homes between 2011 and 2031 and create high quality Garden Communities, including a new Garden Village, is set out in their core strategy. In 2017 the JPU was combined with a delivery unit forming the Joint Planning and Deliver Unit (JDPU). This new body plans to advance North Northamptonshire’s ambitious growth agenda (increasing the population by 25%) and ensure quality design. North Northamptonshire have already established several place shaping policies which now require implementation across all five local authorities. The Future Place programme will support North Northamptonshire’s JDPU deliver the work they have planned for the next year, including creating a Place Shaping website, a Supplementary Planning Document to assist developers, and progressing plans for a new Garden Village.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- For further press information contact Abigail.Chiswell-White@riba.org 020 7307 3811.
- Images of each of the Future Places can be downloaded here.
- More information on the Future Place programme can be found here. You can also email our project manager Carmen.Mateu@riba.org.
- The Future Places were chosen by a panel comprised of: Councillor Martin Tett, Chair of the Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board at the LGA; Chartered Institute of Housing President, Jim Strang; John Acres, RTPI Past President; and Lucy Carmichael, RIBA Director of Practice standing in for RIBA President Ben Derbyshire.The Future Place project is supported by: British Property Federation, Building Research Establishment, Construction Industry Council, Home Builders Federation, National House Building Council and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates www.twitter.com/RIBA
