Regeneration and development resources

What is it? A community asset transfer (CAT) involves transferring responsibility for an asset which is considered to be of benefit to the community from the council to a community group or voluntary organisation. This can be done through either a transfer of management responsibility, short or long term lease, or through the transfer of outright ownership.

When would you do it? Asset transfers are useful for gaining control of buildings considered important for the community, where the community feel they are better able to manage and protect it.

General information

• Assets of Community Value: Locality have developed a guide explaining the ability for community organisations to nominate local buildings or land to be listed by the local authority as an ‘Asset of Community Value’ and therefore enact the ‘Community Right to Bid’.
• CAT guide for councils and councillors: Locality have created a guide on the essential role of councillors in making community asset transfer a success.
• Your council’s approach to CAT: Most councils provide information on their community asset transfer approach.  Using an internet search, search your council’s name and “community asset transfer” to see local results.

Support

• Make it Happen support: You can get up to 10 days of support with Locality to secure a community asset.
• Nurture Development offer paid support for working with community in general, using an Asset Based Community Development approach. They use regional advisors where possible. 

What is it? Community led housing (CLH) is the term for a broad range of housing built and/or managed by community groups.

When would you do it? Community led housing is often built or managed where the existing housing provision does not meet the needs of the local area, or the community feel they are better able to manage it.

General information

• Community Led Homes is a group of organisations who work to support people who wish to know more about CLH.
• Self Help Housing focus on getting empty homes back into use.
• Community Land Trust Network are a member network which supports the increase of community ownership of land and affordable housing. 

Support

• Enabling hubs: Community led homes have set up local enabling hubs across England to provide paid support to community groups in their areas building or managing homes.  Find your local hub here.
• Locality may be able to provide paid support for CLH via their team of trained advisors around the country who have experience working with community organisations on a range of community-led housing and community ownership projects. Find out more here.

What is it? Public art is any artwork that is in the public realm and open and accessible to anyone, located in streets, squares, forecourts, parks or open spaces.

When would you do it? Public art can provide a sense of place, connection and increase wellbeing. If the public are involved in the creation of the art then they often feel a sense of ownership and pride for the area and the artwork.

Creating public art can be a fun way to help engage communities in regeneration and development, while giving people a chance to control the way an area looks and feels.

General information

• Public Art Online have created a planning-focused resource for the creation of public art.
• Public art policies: Many councils publish their public art strategy or policy online where you can see their rules and requirements for public art.  Using an internet search, search your council’s name and “public art” to see local results.

Support

• A space arts provide paid management services to develop public art.*
  *There are also many other design agencies who can provide similar support.

What is it? Green infrastructure is the collection of green spaces in an area which provides quality of life and environmental benefits for communities.

Community gardens are an element of the local green infrastructure which are run and managed by the community, whether that be hands-on growing or overseeing a gardening/growing organisation.

When would you do it? Green infrastructure is vital for the environment, in terms of managing flooding, supporting biodiversity and reducing air pollution. It is also important for wellbeing and provides spaces for exercise and recreation.  Developments without strong green infrastructure elements should be challenged based on legal requirements and on community wellbeing.

Community gardens are useful for engaging residents in healthy pursuits and creating cohesive communities around a shared aim. They also provide communities with an element of control within new developments.

General information

• Green infrastructure research: Several universities have published green infrastructure reports such as Newcastle University and the University of Sheffield.
• Green Capital: The Mayor of London has produced a guide to green infrastructure which can be considered for locations outside London.
• RHS have created a resource on how to set up and manage a community garden here.
• Farm Garden have created a resource offering advice on setting up a community farm or garden here.
• NCVO have advice on setting up a community garden here.

Support

• The Green Infrastructure Partnership: A network of over, 2000 members which shares information about the latest green infrastructure policies and project across the UK.
• Groundwork help businesses and public sector organisations to improve local communities, particularly in making them resilient, healthy & green.  Find your local organisation here.

What is it? A high street is usually the main street of a town, where the majority of commercial businesses such as shops, banks and leisure businesses are located.

When would you do it? With many high streets in decline, there is a need to consider the provision of retail and leisure facilities in any regeneration or development in terms of the needs of the local area and viability of businesses. Community input into plans for high streets is important for their needs to be understood and addressed and the best use made of assets and facilities.*

*Improving high streets may link to the need to protect local assets – so you may also want to take a look at the  Community Asset Transfer section.

General information

• Take back the high street: Power to Change have created a campaign to encourage government to give local communities the power to enable diversification of high streets so they align with community needs.
• Future High Streets forum: A forum set up by government to support and champion local high streets.

Support

• Groundwork help improve town centres through creating high quality open spaces, and supporting business improvement districts. 
• Save the high street: A network with a manifesto to save high streets in the UK, currently recruiting local champions to support the movement

What is it? A planned development is one which has been planned by someone else, such as a developer or council, rather than one which you or your group are involved with.  It’s a development planned for the area rather than by the community.

When would you do it? Engaging with planned developments allows local people to have say in what happens. How much influence local people can have depends on the type of development, but the planning system does allow for, and often requires, community engagement for the majority of developments.

General information

• Developing potential: A guide for communities involved in regeneration by Local Trust
• Estate Regeneration National Strategy: Government publication on the recommended approach to regeneration and development of estates.
• Involving local people in regeneration: Evaluation report from the New Deal for Communities programme.
• URBACT local support toolkit: A toolkit to facilitate collaboration in the analysis of urban challenges and the co-creation of solutions.
• Town & country planning association (TCPA): The TCPA works to challenge, inspire and support people to create healthy, sustainable and resilient places that are fair for everyone. 

Support

• URBACT networks support local engagement with urban development via learning networks.
• TPAS have paid advisers working on all areas of tenant engagement.

The way your group is organised and governed will make a difference to how you are seen, the power you have and your rights as an organisation.  Consider what kind of organisation you want to be, based on what it is you want to do.

We can provide up to 10 days of support to help you become a legal body with our partners Locality. Find out more and sign up here.

Otherwise, the following resources may be useful for thinking about this focus area:

• Third Sector Protect have written a blog on setting up a community group here.
• NCVO have a guide on choosing the type of organisational structure to meet your needs.
• My Community also have advice on choosing the right organisational structure for your needs. 
• This resource is an interactive route map to follow to choose your ideal structure.

To engage in regeneration and development it is important to know who is involved, what power they have and whether you need to connect with them to help you or to make a case to them.  Here are a couple of useful guides to stakeholder management that can help you get started.

• APM guide to stakeholder management
• LGA guide to stakeholder management

All planning decisions are carried out by a local planning authority.  This could be your borough, district or unitary council, depending on where you live. To engage in developments it’s important to know who your planning authority is and to connect with them either directly or through the planning process. Here are some resources to support you to do this:

• Planning Aid England offers advice and guidance on planning as well as paid, bespoke support. Some areas have volunteer representatives who can offer advice.
• PAS are an educational charity and social enterprise which helps people navigate the planning system. They can also help with community engagement.
• Locality can support you to develop neighbourhood plans.

Having a real say in regeneration or development requires organisation and engagement with others in your area.

We can offer to up to 10 days of community engagement support as part of our Make it Happen package. Find out more and sign up here.

Otherwise, these resources are also a good place to start:

• Community planning toolkit: A general guide to community planning and engagement.
• Community practitioner’s network (CPN): Brings together community practitioners from across the UK and provides an informal space where people come together, reflect and listen to each other’s experiences.
• Community engagement and coordination guide: LGA publication on engagement, focusing on town centres, but applicable to all regeneration and development.