People-centred regeneration (or what adding value really means)

Julian Dobsondirector

Urban Pollinators

Sheffield: Indices of Multiple Deprivation, 2010

Why have decades of regeneration initiatives failed to

shift these inequalities - and what should we do?

Out with the old

Why?

because old development assumptions no longer work

because public policy has failed those who most need help

because shift happens - and is happening now

‘It is clear that previous regeneration models that relied on debt finance coupled with rising land and property prices have not

delivered in recent times and are unlikely to do so for the foreseeable future.’

Scottish Government, Building a Sustainable Future, February 2011

JFDI regeneration

(just have fun and do it)

Why?

because we can’t wait for the right legislation

because enterprise stems from action, not policy

because trickle-down has failed and continues to fail

Trickle up theory - ‘a city plan made of small, networked interventions’

Nabeel Hamdi, The Placemaker’s Guide to Building Community, 2010

No more throwaway people

The road to resilience

economic localisation: wealth that sticks

economic participation: from sticks to carrots

economic emancipation: shaking off the shackles

‘We cannot control what will happen if we unleash the potential of real people in real

communities, but we have to do it.’

Martin Simon, Timebanking UK

Relationship-based regeneration

A social contract for regeneration, housing and neighbourhoods

everyone gives: time, money, energy

everyone gains: fulfilment, wealth, respect

everyone shares: wellbeing, community, opportunity

What does it mean for housing providers?

support local economic activity and community building

encourage tenant and resident ownership, management and control

focus on quality of place, quality of life and sustainability: understand and build local connections

‘It is not only possible for one human being to make a real and lasting difference to another; it is often, in the most difficult

circumstances, the only thing that ever does.’

David Robinson, Out of the Ordinary, 2010

thank you

more from me...

www.urbanpollinators.co.uk

my blog: Living with Rats

Twitter: @juliandobson