This is the page where you read about all the exciting projects which Planning Aid North supporting.  

Young planners learn from community experience

Planning Aid North (PAN) is working closely with the University of Newcastle upon Tyne to identify opportunities for students. Many young professionals are joining PAN’s expanding volunteer network and can gain valuable experience from community support programmes.

It is not just North East students who are taking advantage of learning about local awareness and training programmes to support community empowerment. For the second year, students from London South Bank University have taken the opportunity to visit PAN and learn about their community initiatives during a tour of regeneration schemes in the region.

Recently over 50 planning students from Sheffield Hallam University spent a full day with the PAN team. PAN had just completed a successful programme to support communities in 3 areas to promote the Value of Good Urban Design for forward planning, which culminated in a neighbourhood audit of Felling. The Hallam students were very keen to learn about the programme and experience the community participation.

The Felling Neighbourhood Audit

Planning Aid North (PAN) has been working over the last year with Gateshead Council, through an independent partnership, to support local residents affected by regeneration in 3 neighbourhood renewal areas within the Bridging NewcastleGateshead pathfinder. The project has been raising awareness of the value of good urban design to neighbourhood planning and developing residents’ skills to contribute to the future plans for their communities.

Residents have taken part in a series of training events run by PAN, with the support of other experts, to develop their understanding of and skills in the principles of urban design. CABE’s “Building for Life” principles have been at the heart of this training, which has involved interactive classroom activities, presentations and site visits to experience and assess regional examples of urban design.

One group of residents in Felling has recently taken part in a forward-thinking audit of their local neighbourhood. They have applied new urban design skills to review 11 distinct character areas ranging from the Old Pit – a run down and unsightly industrial area, the Bankies – a large and elevated expanse of open space to the High Street – a traditional neighbourhood retail area in need of new life.

The residents, who recognise the value of a strong traditional community, want to influence future plans so Felling is not seen as “uninspiring, depressing, unwanted, ugly and unloved”. PAN has helped them to submit a detailed report to the Council with their views.  Felling Neighbourhood Audit Advice Note:

North Tyneside Local Development Framework Support

Planning Aid North has worked closely with North Tyneside Council to introduce planning and regeneration studies into the curriculum for primary and secondary schools. These studies are geared towards raising awareness of conservation, development and regeneration issues, and then encouraging young people to take an active role in participating to the future of their local and regional areas.

During 2007, over 600 young people contributed to the Council’s Green Space Strategy through our “Community Planning Forums for Young People” project.

The Council asked Planning Aid North in 2008 to support young people to contribute to the Area Action Plans for North Shields and Wallsend. Over 300 pupils from Burnside Business and Enterprise College, and Norham Community Technology College contributed to future plans.

Further details of this valuable work can be found on the information sheet, 06GP56 – North Tyneside Local Development Framework Support.  

Newcastle Community Empowerment

Thanks to Planning Aid North (PAN), residents in Newcastle will hopefully be in a much stronger position to contribute to their future! Following significant support for communities affected by major regeneration in the East and West Ends of the City, PAN has been commissioned by Newcastle Council to deliver a city-wide awareness and support programme.

PAN will deliver a series of awareness presentations across the City to ward committees and community groups. These presentations will help residents to understand the planning system and how they can contribute, the evolution of the Local Development Framework and the impact of key developments. These will include the future Land Allocations Development Planning Document, Area Character Assessments, Section 106 Agreements, Transportation and the need for Growth Points for additional housing provision.

Interested residents will have the opportunity to take part in optional training events on a wide range of planning modules. PAN will also be extending its successful education support programme for young people by offering the “Planning Your City” module to secondary schools. Through enterprise days, students will be introduced to the future plans, the value of good urban design to planning, but most importantly they will have the opportunity to present their ideas and views.

Residents in the City’s West End affected by redevelopment at the General Hospital have already been supported by PAN – continued access to their Advice Helpline and by Community Planners being available to offer independent support at engagement events.

Further details of this project can be found on the information sheet, 06GP57 – Newcastle Community Empowerment.

Author:

Kay Lough

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

15-Sep-08

Categories:

Nations & Regions 

This article has been read 2233 times.