Julie CowansJulie CowansUrban Policy and Sustainable Urban Policy and Sustainable

Communities Advisor Communities Advisor

SustainabilitySustainability

EnvironmentalEnvironmental

Social Social EconomicEconomic

……………….Effects of micro, or neighbourhood .Effects of micro, or neighbourhood socio-economics, on community socio-economics, on community sustainability sustainability

Socio economic Socio economic polarisationpolarisation

IncreasingIncreasing Gated communitiesGated communities Concentrations of povertyConcentrations of poverty

= intolerance, social exclusion…..= intolerance, social exclusion….. Solution: Solution: mixed communitiesmixed communities

(organic eg buy to let, right to buy) (organic eg buy to let, right to buy) and policiesand policies

Why Mixed Communities? Why Mixed Communities?

We know better We know better what does what does notnot work work::

““Living in poverty is bad enough, but Living in poverty is bad enough, but living in a poor community magnifies living in a poor community magnifies everything bad about being poor.”everything bad about being poor.”

(Prof. Suzanne Fitzpatrick, University of York, JRF Centenary paper 2004)(Prof. Suzanne Fitzpatrick, University of York, JRF Centenary paper 2004)

Concentrating DeprivationConcentrating Deprivation

For the individualFor the individual, it hugely magnifies :, it hugely magnifies : Physical and mental health problemsPhysical and mental health problems Low educational achievementLow educational achievement Skills deficit and joblessnessSkills deficit and joblessness Low self esteem, expectations and well Low self esteem, expectations and well

beingbeing The likelihood of offending and being a The likelihood of offending and being a

victim of crimevictim of crime

Concentrating DeprivationConcentrating Deprivation

Cities of neighbourhoods:Cities of neighbourhoods: Stigma by postcode Stigma by postcode Cycles of/intergenerational Cycles of/intergenerational

deprivationdeprivation Reinforces negative perceptions of Reinforces negative perceptions of

societal normssocietal norms Creates a negative ‘neighbourhood Creates a negative ‘neighbourhood

effect’effect’

Concentrating DeprivationConcentrating Deprivation

Physical regeneration efforts are Physical regeneration efforts are expensive and not sustainable expensive and not sustainable (OECD)(OECD)

‘‘Social’ support and capacity Social’ support and capacity building has little long term spatial building has little long term spatial effecteffect

Hardware and software are Hardware and software are interdependent – having one interdependent – having one without the other is useless….without the other is useless….

The ObjectiveThe Objective

Proactive:Proactive:

1.De-concentration of 1.De-concentration of DeprivationDeprivation

2.Aim for better socio economic 2.Aim for better socio economic balance in new communities: balance in new communities: create neighbourhoods of create neighbourhoods of choice and opportunity choice and opportunity

The AimsThe Aims

Social Social – skills, education, – skills, education, capacity buildingcapacity building

EconomicEconomic – building a strong – building a strong and sustainable micro economy and sustainable micro economy

PhysicalPhysical – building housing and – building housing and an environment which will attract an environment which will attract those with choicethose with choice

How to attract those with How to attract those with Choice: We know what Choice: We know what makes a community makes a community

successfulsuccessful Quality school provision Quality school provision (IPD value correlation)(IPD value correlation)

Quality and range of services – public, Quality and range of services – public, leisure, retail leisure, retail (IPD, CBI)(IPD, CBI)

Community safety - a ‘sense of the Community safety - a ‘sense of the normative’normative’

Transport infrastructureTransport infrastructure Public realm- aesthetics, kerb appeal Public realm- aesthetics, kerb appeal (cabe, (cabe,

house mark)house mark) Broad range of quality, varied, interesting Broad range of quality, varied, interesting

housing housing (MORI)(MORI)

Public PolicyPublic Policy

Local Authority Statutory Local Authority Statutory duty to endeavour to create duty to endeavour to create socio-economically - as socio-economically - as well as environmentally - well as environmentally - sustainable communities?sustainable communities?

Julie CowansJulie CowansUrban Policy and Sustainable Urban Policy and Sustainable

Communities Advisor Communities Advisor